Man Arrested For Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — On Friday, August 9, 2013, Javier Negrón-Arce, 47, was arrested at his place of residence after an HSI investigation, which stemmed from a referral from the Puerto Rico Police Department’s Sexual Crimes Division, and revealed that he allegedly transported a 16-year-old minor identified as Jane Doe with the intent to engage in sexual criminal conduct, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This arrest followed an investigation from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, and officers assigned to the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force (PRCACTF).

According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 16, Negrón-Arce, drove Jane Doe to a local motel and sexually abused her against her will. The charging document further alleges that during the sexual act Negrón-Arce restrained Jane Doe’s hands using physical force.

Today, Negrón-Arce appeared before U.S. Magistrate Sylvia Carreño for his detention hearing and was ordered to remain at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo to wait for the outcome of his case.
If convicted, the defendant faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia M. Meconiates.

“Evidence that adults are taking children to motels for the purpose of committing sexual abuse is on the rise.  In Puerto Rico, Federal authorities have enhanced jurisdiction to investigate sex abuse crimes involving children; that is to say that, because of our unique commonwealth status, we can prosecute crimes federally that in the rest of the 50 states would be solely local crimes,” said United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.   “The USAO for the District of Puerto Rico is committed to taking full advantage of this enhanced jurisdiction in order to protect your children.  I urge the public to be on the lookout for children being transported anywhere within Puerto Rico for the purpose of engaging in any sexual activity to contact the Federal authorities directly.”

“Predators who victimize innocent children for selfish gratification must know that we will not rest until they are brought to justice, regardless of where they live,” said Ángel M. Meléndez, special agent in charge HSI San Juan. “Words cannot describe the harm that these crimes inflict on children.”

In response to the need for an island-wide approach to fighting the escalation of predatory crimes against children, HSI San Juan partnered with members of local, state and federal law enforcement, as well as local and state government officials and community leaders, to form PRCACTF in June 2011.

Through PRCACTF, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies work together with local and state government agencies to effectively pool their resources to jointly investigate all crimes against children in Puerto Rico. Through the task force, law enforcement officers are encouraged to share evidence, ideas, and investigative and forensic tools to ensure the most successful prosecutions possible. As such, PRCACTF allows law enforcement to speak with one unified voice in defense of the children of Puerto Rico.

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, 1-800-843-5678.