Merice Perez Colon, Child Sex Abuse, Florida 2024

Florida Woman Charged with Child Sex Abuse

A youth care worker at an emergency influx shelter in Homestead, Florida has been charged with attempting to coerce and entice an unaccompanied alien minor into engaging in illicit sexual activity and attempting production of child pornography.

Merice Perez Colon, 35, of Homestead, Florida was indicted on charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity and attempted production of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422(b) and 2251(a) (Case No. 17-CR-20375).

At the time the charged offenses were allegedly committed, Perez Colon was employed as a youth care worker at an emergency influx shelter in Homestead that provides services to unaccompanied alien children present in the United States.

Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg said, “All shelters, including those that take in unaccompanied minors who arrive in the United States without adult supervision, should be safe havens. Youth workers have a duty to protect and serve the minors who reside at these shelters and are under their care.”

According to the indictment, Perez Colon faces a maximum term of life imprisonment if convicted.

A criminal complaint and indictment merely contain accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

The government commends HHS-OIG and ICE-HSI for the investigative assistance provided in support of this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Kobrinski.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/shelter-worker-charged-attempting-coerce-and-entice-unaccompanied-alien-minor