SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Lizamarie Rivera-García, a 42-year-old teacher from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, is facing life behind bars after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of sex trafficking of children. Rivera-García was taken into custody today by agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), bringing to light a horrifying betrayal of trust and a predatory scheme that exploited vulnerable minors.
The indictment alleges that between December 2023 and October 2024, Rivera-García knowingly recruited, enticed, transported, and maintained a 15-year-old male minor for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts. The charges don’t stop there. She’s also accused of coercing the same victim into sexual activity and using interstate transportation with the intent of facilitating criminal sexual acts. Further, Rivera-García is alleged to have used the internet to distribute obscene material to a minor.
The scope of the alleged abuse extends beyond one victim. Court documents further detail accusations that from December 2023 to November 2024, Rivera-García repeated this pattern of exploitation with a 17-year-old male minor, again recruiting, enticing, transporting, and maintaining him for commercial sex acts. The fact that this individual held a position of responsibility—a teacher—makes the case particularly disturbing, highlighting a gross abuse of power and trust.
“These charges reflect the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct inflicted on her victims,” stated W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The sexual exploitation of children robs children of their freedom, dignity and sense of security. Such conduct is unacceptable in our society.” Rebecca C. Gonzalez-Ramos, HSI San Juan’s Special Agent in Charge, added, “Our children are being sexually exploited by individuals in positions of public trust…HSI’s multidisciplinary team will guarantee that our children receive the necessary assistance to overcome this trauma.”
If convicted, Rivera-García faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, potentially extending to life, for sex trafficking of a child. Transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years, up to life. Coercion and enticement of a minor also carries a 10-year-to-life mandatory minimum. Following any prison sentence, she would be subject to a term of supervised release ranging from 5 years to life. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elba Gorbea, from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, with the investigation led by HSI San Juan, in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. Anyone with information about suspected child exploitation is urged to contact HSI San Juan at 787-729-6969 or via email at IntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov. Resources are available at Know2Protect.gov. Follow ICE HSI San Juan on Instagram, Facebook, and X for updates on their efforts to safeguard children in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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