Bridgeport Man Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses
A Bridgeport man has been arrested and charged with child exploitation offenses. JOSE MANUEL SANTOS, 36, of Bridgeport, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with transfer of obscene materials to a minor, and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
According to the complaint, earlier this week, law enforcement received information that Santos, a school bus/van driver, was sexually soliciting a 13-year-old girl who was a passenger on his route. The mother of the minor victim provided the victim’s cell phone to investigators. Preliminary analysis of the cell phone revealed a sexually explicit photo of Santos that Santos sent to the minor victim, and text messages from Santos, including a text message asking the minor victim to send him a sexually explicit photo of her.
Santos appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and is detained. The charge of transfer of obscene materials to a minor carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that a criminal complaint is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.
Defendant: JOSE MANUEL SANTOS
Criminal Charges: Transfer of obscene materials to a minor, and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity
City and State: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Date: [Current Date: 05/24/2024]
Sentence or Outcome: Detained, awaiting trial
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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