NORFOLK, VA — Vicente Muniz, Jr., a 35-year-old Navy Petty Officer First Class from Virginia Beach, pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to entice a minor into indecent activities. His plea was accepted in the Eastern District of Virginia, where he now faces a significant prison sentence.
Muniz was caught in a sting operation after he contacted an undercover agent, whom he believed was the parent of a 10-year-old child, seeking to arrange a meeting for illegal purposes. This incident occurred on January 17, with Muniz expressing intent to engage with the child sexually. Law enforcement officials arrested Muniz when he attempted to meet with the purported parent and child.
Scheduled for sentencing on July 19, Muniz could receive a mandatory minimum of 10 years to a life sentence in prison. The case, highlighted by U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber and FBI’s Norfolk Field Office’s Brian Dugan, underscores law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to protect minors from online predators. The final sentence will be determined by a federal judge, considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.