Rene Gloria, Kidnapping/Cyberstalking, Texas 2018

A Texas man's Christmas Day nightmare turned into a worst-case scenario when he allegedly kidnapped two minors and used his phone to coerce them into illegal sexual activity, according to a recent indictment.

Rene Gloria, 57, of Muleshoe, Texas, is charged with two counts of kidnapping a minor, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor into illegal sexual activity, and one count of cyberstalking, a federal grand jury revealed.

The alleged crimes took place on Dec. 24, 2018, when Gloria allegedly kidnapped two minors to whom he was not related. In a chilling twist, he also used a cellular phone to attempt to coerce and entice a third minor victim into illegal sexual activity. Additionally, Gloria allegedly used his phone to cause substantial emotional distress to an adult victim.

The case is being investigated by the FBI with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Muleshoe Police Department, the Bailey County Sheriff’s Office, the Plainview Police Department, and the Hale County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office made the announcement.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and Gloria is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The public is urged to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. If you or someone you know is a victim of child exploitation, please contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

Mandatory Facts: Defendant: Rene Gloria, Charges: Two counts of kidnapping a minor, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor into illegal sexual activity, and one count of cyberstalking, City and State: Muleshoe, Texas, Date: Dec. 24, 2018, Current Status: Indicted, awaiting trial.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/texas-man-indicted-charges-kidnapping-two-children-and-other-offenses