ICE San Juan investigation leads to arrest of female teacher for child sex trafficking in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — On July 10, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested Lizamarie Rivera-García, a 42-year-old woman from Bayamón, charged with sex trafficking of children.

“We cannot let our guard down! Our children are being sexually exploited by individuals in positions of public trust. Law enforcement agencies are committed to being the voice of these victims,” said HSI San Juan Special Agent in Charge Rebecca C. Gonzalez-Ramos. “HSI’s multidisciplinary team will guarantee that our children receive the necessary assistance to overcome this trauma, and our agents will make sure that these individuals are arrested, away from causing more damage. A female religion teacher that had the responsibility to guide our children about principles and beliefs was actually developing a plan to sexually assault them. HSI and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau are committed to protecting our children. We will not let these acts happen on our watch.”

According to court documents, between December 2023 and October 2024, Rivera-García knowingly and willfully recruited, enticed, transported and maintained a 15-year-old boy to engage in commercial sex acts. Rivera-García is also accused with knowingly employing, using, persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing the same child to engage in sexual activity; transporting him in a commonwealth, territory or possession of the United States, with intent that the male individual engage in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense; and using internet instant messaging services and social media to knowingly transfer and attempt to transfer obscene matter to an individual who had not attained the age of 16 years.

In addition, from in or about December 2023 to November 2024, Rivera-García knowingly and willfully recruited, enticed, transported and maintained a 17-year-old boy to engage in commercial sex acts.

If convicted on the charges, the defendant faces the following penalties: 

• Sex trafficking of a child, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and up to life in prison.
• Transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and up to life in prison.
• Coercion and enticement of a minor, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and up to life in prison.

All convictions will be followed by a term of supervised release of no less than five years and up to life. A federal district court judge will determine Rivera-García’s sentence after considering the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969 or send an email to IntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov. Learn more about HSI San Juan’s mission to increase public safety in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Instagram, Facebook and X.