ICE arrests PRPD police officer for production of child pornography
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested Tuesday a Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) officer in Barceloneta for production of child pornography.
According to the one-count criminal complaint charging Misael Medero-Garcia, 29, with production of child pornography, from July 2015 through Nov. 2016, Medero-Garcia allegedly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a 15-year-old female identified as “Minor Female 1”, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.
The charging document alleges that on Feb. 6, HSI received information from the PRPD regarding a complaint filed against Medero-Garcia in which he allegedly engaged in criminal sexual conduct with a female minor since she was 15 years old.
On Feb. 7, HSI special agents interviewed the minor and began an investigation into the allegations against Medero-Garcia. The same day, the HSI San Juan Forensic Laboratory performed a preliminary analysis of the minor’s cellular phone revealing the presence of two videos of a minor female and an adult male engaging in criminal sexual conduct. U.S. Magistrate Bruce McGiverin signed an arrest warrant commanding the arrest of the police officer Feb. 7. HSI special agent executed the arrest at the officer’s residence in Barceloneta without incident.
Medero-Garcia had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce McGiverin Wednesday. He was transferred to the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of his case.
“All investigations involving the exploitation of children are heinous, but this case is particularly troubling, given that the accused worked in a position of trust with some of our community’s most vulnerable,” said Ricardo Mayoral, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are determined to continue to relentlessly pursue child predators.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ginette L. Milanes is prosecuting the 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. 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.
Updated: