South Texas man sentenced to more than 21 years for meeting minor for sex
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio resident was sentenced Wednesday to 21 years in federal prison following his conviction for transporting a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney, Richard L. Durbin, Western District of Texas. This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
George Alexander Martinez, 31, from San Antonio, was sentenced to 262 months in prison – to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release – for transporting a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual. Martinez pleaded guilty March 6, 2014.
“The sentence handed down today should send a clear message to those who contemplate doing harm to minors in this way,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson, HSI San Antonio. “HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who commit these heinous crimes are held accountable for their actions.”
According to court documents, Martinez admitted that during October 2012 he transported a 15-year-old female from San Antonio to South Bend, Indiana. While in Indiana, Martinez admitted to engaging in sexual conduct with his victim on several occasions and even assaulting her. HSI special agents arrested Martinez Feb. 14, 2014.
Martinez remains in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bettina Richardson, Western District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.
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.
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