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Six men in South Texas are facing serious federal charges after an undercover operation busted them attempting to exploit a minor. The arrests, made this week in the Rio Grande Valley, stemmed from an online sting targeting individuals seeking to meet with a 16-year-old girl. Authorities say the men believed they were communicating with a minor online and arranged in-person meetings.
The suspects are identified as Porfirio Palacios, 46, of San Juan; Ricardo De La Rosa, 54, of Pharr; Colin Alexander McLean, 21, of McAllen; Antonio Basaldua Rocha, 23, of Edinburg; Henry Martinez Lopez, 53, of Rio Grande City, and Anael Jossue Rodriguez-Rodas, 35, a Honduran national illegally residing in Donna. Rodriguez-Rodas’ immigration status added another layer to the case.
According to court documents, the men engaged in conversations discussing sexual acts and then attempted to meet the “minor” at pre-arranged locations. They allegedly showed up at the meet-up spots at the agreed-upon times, waiting for a girl who never arrived. It was all an HSI-led trap.
Each man is charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison, as well as a potential $250,000 fine. Initial court appearances have begun, with hearings scheduled throughout March. The investigation was a joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Edinburg Police Department, falling under the umbrella of the DOJ’s Project Safe Childhood initiative.