Thirty-One Year-Old Man Sentenced To 198 Months In Prison For Child Exploitation

SAN JUAN, P.R. – U.S. District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa sentenced Byron H. Montijo-Maysonet to 16 years and six months of imprisonment for 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. Montijo-Maysonet was found guilty of these charges on March 7, 2018.  

According to the evidence presented at trial, on November 24, 2015, the defendant along with co-defendant, Luis Meléndez-Ramos, transported a 13-year-old female minor and a 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. After this first encounter, 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 13-year-old girls from their middle school and transported them to the motel to engage in sexual activity.  

“The conclusion of this case shows the commitment of our state and federal law enforcement agencies to apprehend and prosecute criminals who 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 Attorney and Deputy Chief for the Immigration, Cybercrimes, and Exploitation Unit Nicholas W. Cannon, and AUSA Ginette Milanes, and investigated by ICE-HSI.

# # #