ICE arrests Wisconsin man for sex trafficking

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Wisconsin man was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of children following a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to the information in the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Joseph Neil Bronson, 35, responded to an advertisement on an Internet-based website Sept. 30. The advertisement was listed as an escort service specializing in young girls in Puerto Rico. Bronson wrote that he liked girls with smaller bodies, who were between the ages of 10 and 12 years of age, for a "full service." He agreed to pay $200.00 per hour for sex with a 12-year-old female and offered the place he was staying as the location in which the sex encounter would occur.

On Oct. 1, following an HSI investigation, special agents approached Bronson and placed him under arrest. He was in possession $300.00 in cash and the phone he used to communicate with the person whom he thought was in charge of the minor with whom he intended to have sex.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elba Gorbea. If convicted, the Bronson faces 15 years to life in prison.

This investigation was conducted under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.