Thirty-One Year-Old Man Found Guilty Of Child Exploitation

SAN JUAN, P.R. – After a three-day jury trial and two hours of deliberation, Byron H. Montijo-Maysonet was found guilty of one count of coercion and enticement of a minor and four counts of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity with a minor, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. United States District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the trial.  

According to the evidence presented at trial, on November 24, 2015, the defendant along with co-defendant, Luis Meléndez-Ramos, transported one 13-year-old female minor and one 14-year-old minor from their middle school in Manatí, PR, to a motel located in Barceloneta, PR, with the intent to engage in sexual activity. The defendant and Mr. Meléndez-Ramos used an internet instant messaging service to persuade one of the minors to return to the motel this time with a different 13-year-old female minor. On November 30, 2015, the defendant and Mr. Meléndez-Ramos picked up the two minor 13-year-old girls from their middle school and transported them to the motel to engage in sexual activity.

“This conviction shows the commitment of our state and federal law enforcement agencies to apprehend and prosecute criminals whose crimes victimize children,” said United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico will continue to prosecute sexual predators in order to protect the vulnerable victims of these crimes, our children.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas W. Cannon and Ginette Milanes. The defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten (10) years in prison. The sentencing is scheduled for June 6, 2018.

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