July 3, 2008

ICE nabs Puerto Rican man for sexually enticing a minor

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico - A 43-year-old man from Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, was arrested here today after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation revealed that he was sexually enticing a girl who he thought was 13-years-old.

Angel Cosme-Martinez was arrested by ICE agents in the parking lot of Plaza Rio Hondo after he arranged the meeting during the sexually explicit conversations. .
Cosme-Martinez is being charged with Title 18 United States Code (USC), Section 2422(b).

"This arrest is a stern reminder of the consequences awaiting those who use the Internet to sexually exploit innocent children," said Manuel Oyola Torres, special agent in charge of ICE's office of investigations in Puerto Rico. "Some predators mistakenly believe the anonymity of cyberspace shields them from scrutiny, when in fact, their use of computers and the Internet have given us new tools in our enforcement efforts to protect children from online predators."

Cosme-Martinez had his initial appearance before U.S magistrate judge Camille Velez Rive today. He was transferred to the Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Metropolitan Detention Center where he remains awaiting the outcome of his case.
The arrest of Angel Cosme-Martinez was part of Operation Predator, a comprehensive ICE initiative aimed at those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign national predators whose crimes make them deportable. Since the initiative was launched in July of 2003, there have been more than 11,300 predators arrested nationwide.

This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jenifer Hernandez.

Additional information about Operation Predator is available on the Web at www.ice.gov. ICE encourages the reporting of suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

A criminal complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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