Behavioral Health Specialist Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Enticing a Minor Hopsital Patient for Sex, and Attempting to Obstruct His Prosecution

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Ricardo D. Minor, 40, of Cahokia, Illinois, will be spending 15 years in
federal prison for enticing a minor to have sex with him.   Minor was sentenced to 180 months’
imprisonment for enticement of a minor; traveling with intent to have sex with a minor; and
attempting to obstruct his prosecution. Minor will also serve ten years of supervised release after
release from prison.
According to court documents, the crimes occurred between June 14, 2017 and September 3, 2017,
while Minor was working as a Behavioral Health Specialist at a local hospital and the victim was a
patient.   Minor admitted that he used his cell phone and internet to contact the victim to have
sex with him on several occasions in homes in Collinsville, Illinois, and Cahokia, Illinois. Minor
was also a driver for Uber and would take the victim with him on trips to have sex. The Court also
heard evidence regarding other allegations of criminal and inappropriate sexual contact by Minor,
including with patients receiving therapy at the same hospital.

The obstruction charge was based upon Minor’s activity between August 2017 and November 27, 2017.  
 During  this  time,  he  attempted  to  obstruct  his  prosecution  by  contacting  the  victim 
and witnesses to get them to lie regarding his criminal conduct.   One witness was asked to call
the family of the victim to get the family not to pursue charges.

The Court in sentencing Minor said that his conduct was “reprehensible” and noted that the 15-year
sentence of imprisonment was needed to deter further criminal conduct.

After the sentencing U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, “This case is so egregious because the
defendant preyed on a vulnerable victim who he knew was receiving behavioral health treatment.” He
cautioned parents that, “The case serves to highlight how important it is for parents to monitor
their children’s internet and cell phone usage because sexual predators rely on their cell phones
to gain access to victims.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May
2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and

abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation
and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to
locate, apprehend,  and  prosecute  individuals  who  sexually  exploit  children,  and  to 
identify  and  rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit
www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit
www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The  case  was  investigated  by  the  Collinsville  Police  Department,  the  St.  Louis  County 
Police
Department and the FBI.   Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott prosecuted the case.