SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging pastor Emmanuel Morales-Hernández, 29, of Lares, Puerto Rico, with coercion and enticement of a minor and attempted receipt of child exploitation material, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The arrest follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.
According to court documents, around November and December of 2021, Emmanuel Morales-Hernández knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced an individual who had not attained the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. The man was arrested at his residence without incident. The defendant is a well-known pastor in Lares and Utuado. Morales-Hernández utilized his position of public trust to entice and coerce a 16-year-old minor.
“The defendant used his position of trust in his community to prey on a minor, making him the victim of child exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “If you are a victim or know of another victim of this individual, please come forward; contact the authorities so we can protect you and others from these crimes. We want the community to know that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice, along with our federal, state and local partners, are committed to protecting children from these criminals.”
“The sexual exploitation of minors, in all forms, is a despicable and a very serious crime. HSI will fiercely investigate these crimes to identify the alleged perpetrator, arrest him or her, and obtain solid evidence that will prevail in court,” said Iván J. Arvelo, Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Juan. “We will continue working with our local and federal partners and using all resources available and robust investigative authorities to identify you, arrest you and prosecute you.”
Morales-Hernández had his initial hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce McGiverin on March 24. He was transferred to the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of his case.
If convicted, Morales-Hernández faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison for the enticement and coercion charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years for the attempted receipt of child exploitation material. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant United States Attorney Jenifer Hernández-Vega, Chief of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is in charge of the prosecution of this case.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of DHS and a vital U.S. asset in combatting transnational crimes and threats. One of HSI’s top priorities is to protect the public from crimes of victimization, and HSI’s child exploitation investigations program is a central component of this mission. HSI is recognized as a global leader in this investigative discipline, and is committed to utilizing its vast authorities, international footprint and strong government and non-government partnerships to identify and rescue child victims, identify and apprehend offenders, prevent transnational child sexual abuse and help make the internet a safer place for children.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from online sexual abuse, visit https://www.ice.gov/topics/iGuardians.
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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