Puerto Rican man found guilty of sexual child exploitation
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a federal jury found a 63-year-old man guilty in U.S. District Court Aug. 24 of transporting a minor to engage in criminal sexual conduct.
According to the evidence presented at trial, in March 2015, Wally Irizarry-Sisco transported an 11-year-old female to a motel located in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico, with the intent to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
“This guilty verdict should send a clear message to those who victimize our innocent children for selfish gratification that we will not rest until they are brought to justice,” said Iván J. Arvelo, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “We will continue identifying and investigating sexual predators to protect the most vulnerable segment of our society -- our children.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elba Gorbea and Special Assistant United States Attorney Cristina Caraballo. Irizarry-Sisco faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. The sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.
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 16,000 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 2016, more than 2,600 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 800 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 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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