Guaynabo Registered Sex Offender Arrested for Receiving and Possessing Child Exploitation Materials

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On December 18, 2023, HSI San Juan special agents assigned to the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force (PRCACTF) arrested Marcelino Resto Colón, a 68-year-old male from Guaynabo, who was previously convicted for lascivious acts, and is a registered sex offender in Puerto Rico.

According to court documents, from June 2022 through July 2022, Resto Colón used his computer and cellular phone to receive one or more images of child pornography via the internet depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  Also, from June 2022 through May 30, 2023, the defendant possessed one or more images and videos which contained images of child pornography. The indictment also states that prior to committing the alleged offenses, Resto Colón was convicted on or about September 12, 2003, in Puerto Rico state court, for abusive sexual conduct involving a minor.

“Those who engage in child exploitation and possess child sexual abuse material will be held accountable for their heinous conduct,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “I commend the prosecution team and our law enforcement partners who continue working tirelessly to ensure that these defendants are be held accountable for their crimes.”

HSI San Juan’s Special Agent in Charge Rebecca González-Ramos stated: “If the allegations presented in this case are true, we are facing an individual who does not demonstrate any regret for his actions.  Let this case demonstrates HSI’s commitment to thoroughly investigate these crimes and assure they are sustained in court and proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Assistant United States Attorney Ginette L. Milanes of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, defendant faces a sentence of at least 15 years up to 40 years of imprisonment for receipt of child exploitation material; and at least10 years up to 20 years of imprisonment for possession of child pornography. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit https://www.ice.gov/topics/iGuardians; and to report suspicious activities call 787-729-6969.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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 www.justice.gov/psc.

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

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HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

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