Shelter Worker Sentenced to 10 Years for Coercing Minors for Sex in Florida
Merice Perez Colon, 35, of Homestead, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 50 years of supervised release for attempting to coerce and entice an unaccompanied alien minor to engage in illicit sexual activity.
Perez Colon, a former youth care worker at an emergency influx shelter in Homestead, was convicted of attempting to coerce and entice an unaccompanied alien minor to engage in illicit sexual activity. The shelter, which has since been closed, provided services to unaccompanied alien children present in the United States.
Perez Colon engaged in inappropriate relationships with minors she met at the shelter by sending and receiving explicit videos and images.
Acting U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 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.
Perez Colon’s sentencing comes as a result of a joint investigation between HHS-OIG and ICE-HSI. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Kobrinski prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners stand united against child exploitation and abuse. Any individual who victimizes unaccompanied alien minors or any other children can look to this sentencing and see they will face severe consequences within the federal criminal justice system.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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