Juan Carlos Morales Pedraza, Coercion and Enticement of Minor, New Jersey 2024

A Passaic County man, Juan Carlos Morales Pedraza, 35, of Paterson, New Jersey, was sentenced to 95 months in prison for coercing a 15-year-old minor and re-entering the United States illegally. The crime occurred on April 13, 2019, in Passaic County.

According to the investigation, Morales Pedraza approached the 15-year-old victim and engaged in sexual intercourse with them. The two then left New Jersey, planning to travel to Illinois, where Morales Pedraza intended to engage in further sexual conduct with the victim. Law enforcement arrested Morales Pedraza in Ohio.

Morales Pedraza admitted to being a citizen of Mexico and that he had previously been deported. He subsequently re-entered the United States illegally.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Newark office, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Lake Township Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Stanley R. Chesler sentenced Morales Pedraza to three years of supervised release.

The sentencing occurred on videoconference today. Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig credited the agencies involved in the investigation for their efforts leading to Morales Pedraza’s sentencing.

Morales Pedraza previously pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and re-entering the United States after having been deported. The superseding information charged Morales Pedraza with these crimes.

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