Two individuals have been charged with sex trafficking of a minor in Puerto Rico, according to a recent indictment.
Juan Carlos Peña-Luguera, 39, and Joshua Jandel Pérez-Lebrón, 20, were indicted for coercion and enticement of a minor, sex trafficking of minors, and receipt of child pornography, the FBI announced.
The indictment alleges that from July 2023 through December 2023, the defendants knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, and solicited a male minor, between the ages of 16 and 17 years old, to engage in a commercial sex act.
The defendants used cellular phones and internet instant messaging services to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce the male minor to engage in sexual activity. They are also charged with receipt of child exploitation material, including images and videos depicting a male minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct via an instant messaging application using a cellular telephone.
“Those who engage in child exploitation, including the sex trafficking of children and possession of child sexual abuse material, will be held accountable for their criminal conduct,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
If convicted, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years up to life in prison for enticement and coercion of a minor and sex trafficking charges, and not less than 5 years up to 20 years of imprisonment for the receipt of child pornography, followed by a term of supervised release of 5 years up to life.
The FBI is seeking information from the public regarding these two individuals and is asking anyone who may have been a victim of these subjects or knows someone who may have been to come forward and call the FBI San Juan Field Office at 787-987-6500.
Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, is also involved in the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Alexis David Rivera-Castillo, Child Sex Trafficking Attempt, Puerto Rico 2018 · Puerto Rico
- Alexis David Rivera-Castillo, Child Sex Trafficking, Puerto Rico 2024 · Puerto Rico
- Julio Figueroa-Álvarez, Sex Trafficking of Children, Puerto Rico 2025 · Puerto Rico
- José Luis Otero-Otero, Sex Trafficking of Children, Puerto Rico 2016 · Puerto Rico
- Byron H. Montijo-Maysonet, Coercion and Enticement of a Minor, Puerto Rico 2024 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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