HSI San Juan arrests 2 men on child exploitation charges
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested two men in separate cases related to child exploitation Jan. 26.
The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force, led by HSI, arrested Elvin Jhohanie Molina-Rosado, a 35-year-old man from Corozal. A federal grand jury indicted him Jan. 24 on four counts, including sexual exploitation of children, sexual enticement of a minor, receipt of child exploitation material, and possession of child exploitation material.
According to court documents, from February 2020 through April 2022, the defendant used his computer, cellphones and internet social media applications to persuade and entice a girl between 12 and 14 years of age to engage in sexually explicit conduct. During the same period, Molina-Rosado produced, received and transmitted child sexual abuse material, which he also knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view.
If convicted, Molina-Rosado faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenifer Y. Hernandez-Vega, chief of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case.
In a separate case, agents from HSI’s Fajardo office arrested Edwin Martínez-Ortiz, 45, of Caguas.
Authorities issued a federal indictment and arrest warrant Jan. 24 for two counts — one of sexual exploitation of children and one of possession of child exploitation material.
According to the indictment, from March 2016 through May 1, 2022, Martínez-Ortiz knowingly used a cellphone to induce a child between 10 and 16 years of age to engage in sexually explicit conduct and to produce and transmit the depiction of such conduct. During the same period, Martínez-Ortiz possessed and accessed with intent to view images of child sexual abuse material, including those of a prepubescent child or a child who had not attained 12 years of age.
If convicted, Martínez-Ortiz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina M. Agrait-Barreto of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case.
“Crimes against children have a direct impact in our society. Individuals that attack our most vulnerable will be prosecuted and taken to face justice,” said HSI San Juan Special Agent in Charge Rebecca González-Ramos. “HSI agents will protect our children from these predators by dedicating all efforts toward gathering evidence from electronic devices, and our multidisciplinary team will assist the victims and their families to ensure their mental health during these investigations.”
“We are committed to bringing the defendants in these cases to justice and protecting every child,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow. “I would like to thank the agents and state and local partners who are relentless in their pursuit of child predators.”
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators and online abuse, visit iGuardians™: Combating Child Predators and to denounce suspicious activities call 787-729-6969.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
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