Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Attempting to Have Sex with Children

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A local graduate student was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for attempting to have sex with two children, ages 5 and 7.

Julio Perez-Torres, 26, of Rome, New York, pleaded guilty on January 13 to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. 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 advertisement expressing interest in sex with children. When an undercover Fairfax County police officer replied portraying himself as the father of two children, ages 5 and 7, Perez-Torres discussed performing graphic sexual acts on the children. On Feb. 18, 2016, after weeks of corresponding with the undercover officer via sexually explicit emails, text messages and telephone calls, Perez-Torres traveled to meet the undercover officer with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the children. Perez-Torres was arrested at that time.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kenneth A. Blanco, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kellen S. Dwyer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Burke IV prosecuted the case.

This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-287.