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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
January 12, 2007 U.S. Marshals Service, Office of Public Affairs
(202) 307-9065
 
ORLANDO SEX OFFENDER PLEADS GUILTY TO FAILURE TO REGISTER
Guilty Plea is First Under Adam Walsh Act
 
Orlando, Florida - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the United States Marshals Service announced that Wilfredo Madera, a 41-year-old resident of Orlando, Florida, has pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender under the Adam Walsh Act, which was enacted on July 27, 2006. This is the first guilty plea under the act. Madera was arrested by investigators during Operation FALCON III, a fugitive apprehension operation conducted by the United States Marshals Service in October, 2006. More than 10,700 fugitives were arrested during Operation FALCON III, including more than 1,600 unregistered sex offenders. U.S. Marshals featured Madera as one of their “FALCON 15" most heinous fugitives arrested during the operation.

Madera faces 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release when he is sentenced on April 25, 2007, in United States District Court in the Middle District of Florida.

In 2005, Madera was convicted in New York, of having sexual contact with a person under 14 years old and was placed on probation. He was required to register as a sex offender and keep such registration current. Last year, Madera moved from New York to Orlando, but failed to register as a sex offender in Florida, and did not update his registration in New York

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General
Alberto R. Gonzales created Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood uses federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case was investigated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service. U.S. Marshals will continue to work with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as they investigate cases involving sexual predators. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia A. Hawkins.