Eduardo Luis Marrero Casanova, Child Exploitation, Puerto Rico 2024

A disturbing case of child exploitation has come to light in Puerto Rico, with Eduardo Luis Marrero Casanova, a 53-year-old religious leader from Cayey, sentenced to 240 months in prison for his crimes.

The sentencing occurred on February 27, 2024, by Chief Judge Raul M. Arias Marxuach. Marrero Casanova was convicted of two counts of production of child pornography.

According to court documents, from December 2022, through January 25, 2023, Marrero Casanova used a cellular phone and internet instant messaging services to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce two 15-year-old male minors to engage in sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, which includes the production of child pornography as defined in Title 18, United States Code.

In addition, Marrero Casanova did knowingly employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor, and attempted to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daynelle Álvarez Lora and Emelina Agrait Barreto prosecuted the case.

Eduardo Luis Marrero Casanova, Defendant, exact criminal charges: Production of Child Pornography, City and State: Cayey, Puerto Rico, Exact Date: December 2022 - January 25, 2023, Sentence or outcome: 240 months in prison.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-pr/pr/two-individuals-sentenced-prison-two-child-exploitation-cases