California Man Pleads Guilty in Child Sex Sting

Gabriel Murillo, 44, of San Bernardino County, California, pleaded guilty to attempted online enticement of a minor, admitting he tried to have sex with a 12-year-old girl he met through explicit online conversations. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Rochester, New York, exposes the predatory lengths some will go to exploit children across state lines.

Murillo engaged in sexually explicit chats between April 2018 and February 2019, believing he was communicating with a preteen girl living in upstate New York. In reality, the ‘child’ was an undercover investigator with the New York State Police. Despite multiple acknowledgments of her age, Murillo sent the victim pornography and pushed for a sexual meeting, grooming the supposed minor with disturbing persistence.

On February 16, 2019, Murillo flew from Los Angeles to Rochester, NY, fully intending to consummate the illicit encounter. He arrived at the Greater Rochester International Airport only to be arrested by a coordinated team from the New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Air Marshal Service as he stepped off the plane.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi, handling the prosecution, detailed how Murillo’s digital trail laid bare his intent. The defendant not only admitted the girl’s age but escalated conversations toward physical contact, demonstrating a calculated effort to exploit a child. The sting operation, built on precise undercover work, prevented a potential tragedy.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison, a maximum of life, a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford will sentence Murillo on August 6, 2019, following the plea entered in her courtroom.

The investigation was led by Major Eric Laughton of the New York State Police, Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly of Homeland Security Investigations, and Supervisory Air Marshal-in-Charge William Hall. Authorities emphasize that online predators will be tracked, exposed, and prosecuted—no matter how far they travel to commit their crimes.

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