U.S. Attorney Charges Haverstraw Man With Sexual Exploitation And Enticement Of Three Minors

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging OSCAR LEMUS with sexual exploitation and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.  LEMUS was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court and detained.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This case underlines the urgent need for law enforcement to continue its efforts to protect children from those who prey on them.  As today’s arrest shows, we will use every tool available to law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those alleged to have sexually exploited children.” 

As alleged in the Complaint:[1]

From at least on or about April 20, 2024, up to and including April 23, 2024, LEMUS, who used the screen name “lemus.xp,” met a 14-year-old minor on social media and persuaded her to meet him in Rockland County, New York, to engage in sexual activity.

On or about March 16, 2024, LEMUS engaged in sexual activity with a 14-year-old minor in the Bronx, New York, and video-recorded the sexual activity using a cellphone.

On or about August 20, 2023, LEMUS persuaded a 16-year-old minor in Mississippi to engage in sexual activity during a live video chat with LEMUS.

Anyone who may have encountered LEMUS or whose child may have had any communications with LEMUS is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).

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LEMUS, 23, of Haverstraw, New York, is charged with one count of enticing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.  He is also charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ramapo Police Department, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department in connection with this investigation.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.  

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.