SAN JUAN, P.R. – United States District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa sentenced Alexis David Rivera-Castillo to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for sex trafficking of children, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Rivera-Castillo had plead guilty on February 11, 2019.

According to the Plea Agreement filed in February 2019, Alexis David Rivera-Castillo began an online conversation with an adult female in June 2018, on a social networking and dating application website. During their conversation, the adult female told to the defendant that she had two children ages 10 and 13. Defendant Rivera-Castillo requested to see the 10-year-old minor in underwear and have sexually explicit conduct with the minor and the adult female at a motel. Rivera-Castillo offered to give the adult female money and provide her with a car. After the adult female went to the FBI, an undercover agent posing as the adult female continued communications with Rivera-Castillo. During the communications, Rivera-Castillo coordinated to meet with the undercover agent and the minor at a motel on July 23, 2018. On that date, Rivera-Castillo arrived to the motel where he was arrested by the FBI. 

“Justice was done. This sentence should serve to reassure the public that we are paying close attention to the well-being of our children, and that we will spare no expense to take child predators off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.   

The criminal prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elba Gorbea. The FBI was in charge of the investigation with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood is an initiative of the Department of Justice aimed at preventing the abuse and exploitation of children by the use of digital cameras, computers and other digital and electronic media.

# # #