SAN JUAN, P.R. — Francisco Xavier Ortiz-Colón, a 22-year-old private security guard, is behind bars after being indicted on 13 federal counts tied to the sexual exploitation of six girls between the ages of 9 and 14. Authorities say Ortiz-Colón didn’t just view child pornography—he produced it, using Instagram to groom and manipulate his victims over an 11-month period from August 2019 to June 2020.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), alongside the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force (PRCACTF), arrested Ortiz-Colón at his residence following a federal grand jury’s August 19, 2020 indictment. The charges include one count each of possession and receipt of child pornography, five counts of production of child pornography, and five counts of coercion and enticement of a minor. Each charge carries a brutal prison sentence—up to 30 years for production, life in prison for coercion, and 20 years for receipt.
According to the indictment, Ortiz-Colón used social media as his hunting ground, leveraging an Instagram account to lure underage girls into producing sexually explicit content. He didn’t just exploit them—he directed them. He told at least one victim law enforcement would never catch him. That arrogance didn’t save him. “This case has to be one of the most aberrant child exploitation cases investigated by HSI San Juan,” said Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo. “He was caught and now faces a long time in jail if found guilty.”\
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow made it clear: this is one of the most disturbing cases to hit Puerto Rico in recent memory. “The production of child sexual abuse material is a horrific crime that can negatively affect victims for their entire lives,” Muldrow said. “I am thankful to those who stopped this defendant from committing further crimes.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office, he emphasized, will continue to prioritize the aggressive prosecution of child predators.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenifer Y. Hernández-Vega, the Project Safe Childhood Coordinator in the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit. It was investigated under HSI’s Operation Predator, a global initiative targeting child sex offenders. Since 2003, Operation Predator has led to over 25,000 arrests. In fiscal year 2019 alone, HSI agents arrested more than 3,500 child predators and rescued over 1,000 victims.
An indictment is not a conviction. Francisco Xavier Ortiz-Colón is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But the evidence, if upheld, paints a chilling picture of calculated predation. Anyone with information on suspected child exploitation is urged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. HSI’s Operation Predator app and online alerts also provide real-time access to wanted predators.
Related Federal Cases
- Noel Aquino Florenciani Gets 22 Years for Child Porn Crimes · Puerto Rico
- Ricardo Barrios-Calderon, Alfredo Santiago-Rosario Held on Child Porn Charges · Puerto Rico
- Child Porn Kingpin Sentenced to 24 Years · Puerto Rico
- William Javier Vega-Valentín, Carlos Borrero-Vélez Arrested in Ponce Child Exploitation Case · Puerto Rico
- CBP Officer Alfredo Maysonet-Galarza Indicted for Child Pornography · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes