ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Julio Perez-Torres, 26, of Rome, New York, pleaded guilty today to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity — a crime that exposed the dark underbelly of online predation and academic privilege.
According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, in early February 2016, Perez-Torres — a master’s degree candidate at American University — posted an online ad seeking sex with children. When an undercover Fairfax County police officer responded, posing as the father of two young children, ages 5 and 7, Perez-Torres didn’t hesitate. He plunged into graphic discussions of sexual acts he intended to perform on the minors, communicating through explicit emails, text messages, and phone calls over several weeks.
On February 18, 2016, driven by predatory intent, Perez-Torres traveled to meet the undercover officer, believing he would gain access to the children. He arrived ready to commit unspeakable acts — and was arrested on the spot. The operation, tightly coordinated and executed, cut short a planned sexual assault before it could materialize.
Perez-Torres now faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12 before U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. While Congress mandates these penalties, the final sentence will be determined by the court, weighing the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, confirmed the plea after it was formally accepted. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kellen S. Dwyer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Burke IV.
This case was investigated under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the explosion of child sexual exploitation online. The program unites federal, state, and local law enforcement to hunt down predators, rescue victims, and dismantle digital networks of abuse. Court documents related to Case No. 1:16-cr-287 are available through the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and PACER.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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