Juana Diaz resident arrested for child pornography
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working jointly with the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force (PRCACTF), arrested a Juana Diaz man Monday on child pornography charges.
Luis Angel Reyes-Torres, 41, was encountered at his residence while HSI special agents were executing a federal search warrant at his address. Reyes-Torres was interviewed and admitted observing images of child pornography using peer-to-peer applications. A preliminary forensics examination of Reyes-Torres'computer revealed child pornography videos and images. Subsequently, HSI agents arrested Reyes-Torres for receipt of child pornography. HSI special agents will continue investigating the contents of Reyes-Torres'computer through a forensics examination.
"Child predators targeting our most vulnerable members of society is a serious matter," said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. "HSI is committed to apprehending individuals who sexually exploit our children and deprive them of their innocence. We will continue working with the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force to investigate such reprehensible actions."
Assistant United States Attorney Elba Gorbea is in charge of the prosecution of this case. Reyes-Torres had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce J. McGiverin Monday. He was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo awaiting a detention hearing set for Friday.
In response to the need for an island-wide approach to fight predatory crimes against children, HSI San Juan partnered with members of local, state and federal law enforcement, as well as local and state government officials and community leaders, to form the PRCACTF in June 2011.
Through PRCACTF local, state and federal law enforcement agencies work together with local and state government agencies to effectively pool their resources to investigate all crimes against children in Puerto Rico. Law enforcement officers share evidence, ideas and investigative and forensic tools to ensure the most successful prosecutions possible. As such, the task force allows law enforcement to speak with one unified voice in defense of the children of Puerto Rico.
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 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.
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. 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.
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