Indiana Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Trying to F— 14-Year-Olds
BENTON, Ill. — A federal judge in southern Illinois sentenced a 27-year-old Indiana man to 20 years in prison for attempting to engage in sexual activity with minors. Diego A. Montes-Roldan, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty in February to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
Following his imprisonment, Montes-Roldan will serve a lifetime term of supervised release. The harsh sentence comes after investigators uncovered conversations between Montes-Roldan and two 14-year-old victims he met through social media. In separate conversations, Montes-Roldan discussed having sexual intercourse with both victims.
Prosecutors revealed that police received reports of Montes-Roldan’s conversations with one of the minors in October 2021. Following an FBI investigation, Montes-Roldan was arrested by law enforcement. The case was led by the FBI Springfield Field Office and involved assistance from the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation and the Porter County, Indiana, Sheriff’s Office.
“Predators are actively scouting for victims online, but quick detection by parents and strong action by law enforcement can help to safeguard children,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to work with our partners to help keep children safe.”
“The FBI prioritizes protecting our most vulnerable and, in this case, combined law enforcement efforts saved young victims from irreparable harm,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Rodriguez. “This sentence puts Montes-Roldan behind bars for a significant amount of time and prevents further exploitation of innocent children.”
“Preying on youth is a diabolical crime and ISP is relentless when it comes to investigating predators,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “ISP will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at all levels to identify child predators and successfully bring them to justice.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Bloodworth prosecuted the case, which highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in preventing and investigating child sex crimes.
The harsh sentence for Montes-Roldan is a testament to the commitment of law enforcement to protecting vulnerable members of society and holding predators accountable for their crimes.
As the nation continues to grapple with the issue of child sex crimes, this case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need for continued collaboration between law enforcement, parents, and the community to safeguard children.
By working together, we can create a safer and more just society for all.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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