Honduran national convicted after cross-country trip against minor’s will

HOUSTON – A 33-year-old man who illegally resided in Houston has pleaded guilty to interstate travel with intent to engage in a sex act with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

In June 2020, Wilmer Rivera-Hernandez took a 15-year-old female on what was supposed to be a date. However, the event ended up being a three-day trip across the country against the victim’s will.

The young female told Rivera-Hernandez to take her home, but he refused and drove her out of the Houston area. During the drive, he bought alcohol and forced her to drink it, threatening her and her family if she refused to obey him. He kept her in a state of intoxication so she could not recognize where she was. He also kept her cell phone which prevented her from seeking help. 

On one evening during the trip, Rivera-Hernandez took the minor victim to a motel near Little Rock, Arkansas, where he raped her.

She attempted to get help on two occasions after getting temporary access to her phone. One was unsuccessful, but she was eventually able to text her family members and told them he could kill her and to call the police. Authorities were quickly able to find Rivera-Hernandez and the victim in his car which was parked at a truck stop in Knoxville, Tennessee.

While in custody, Rivera-Hernandez also attempted to obstruct justice. He arranged for the distribution of fabricated WhatsApp messages purporting to be that of the minor victim. In them, he made it appear the minor had recanted her claims of kidnapping and rape and hoped it would lead to the dismissal of the charges. He was unsuccessful when the investigation revealed the messages originated from him.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. will impose sentencing Nov. 20. At that time, Rivera-Hernandez faces up to life in federal prison.   

Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. Sheriff’s Offices in Montgomery County, Texas, and Knox County, Tennessee, assisted with the victim’s rescue. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad Khandelwal and Stephanie Bauman prosecuted the case.