Roswell Man Sentenced for Sexually Exploiting Two Minors After Grooming Them on Snapchat

ALBUQUERQUE – A child predator who used the messaging app Snapchat to groom and sexually exploit young girls was sentenced to 235 months in prison after pleading guilty to criminal sexual acts against minors.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, between September 2022, and November 18, 2022, Juan Rodriguez, 40, engaged in a sexual act with Jane Doe 1, a 12-year-old minor female on three occasions. Prior to engaging in sexual activity with Jane Doe 1, Rodriguez communicated with Jane Doe 1 on the instant messaging app Snapchat.

During the summer of 2021, Rodriguez engaged in a sexual act with Jane Doe 2, an 11-year-old minor female. Prior to engaging in sexual activity with Jane Doe 2, Rodriguez communicated with her on the instant messaging app Snapchat.

In his plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted that he knew Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 were minors when he communicated with them.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Roriguez will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.

This case was investigated by the Roswell Police Department and the FBI’s Albuquerque Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

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