us tourist killed in puerto rico

3 U.S. tourists stabbed in Puerto Rico after being told to stop recording in popular area

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Three U.S. tourists were stabbed in Puerto Rico early Monday after police said someone told them to stop recording in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began recording a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.

Two of the tourists remain hospitalized, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of "Despacito," a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

The Associated Press

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Breaking news, 3 american tourists stabbed in puerto rico after being warned to stop filming a hamburger cart: cops.

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Three American tourists were stabbed in Puerto Rico early Monday after they were told to stop filming in the La Perla neighborhood made famous by Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” music video , police said.

The incident began unfolding after 4 a.m. in the popular community where one of the tourists, identified by authorities as Carlos Sanchez Brown, 39, from South Carolina, began recording video of a hamburger cart but was told by some locals to stop and leave the area.

Brown was accompanied by Wallace Florence, 37, also from South Carolina, and Jackson Tremayne, 38, from Georgia, municipal commissioner José Juan García told station WAPA-TV.

The visitors allegedly did not heed the warning and continued filming. Before long, a suspect described as a fair-skinned man with long white hair allegedly assaulted Florence with a blow to the head, reported Telemundo PR.

The trio of tourists tried to escape by making their way to the Old San Juan neighborhood, but they soon realized that they were being followed, police said.

As the victims reached Imperial Street near the Museum of Art and History, a person armed with a knife stabbed Brown in the left forearm and plunged the blade six times into Tremayne’s body, including in the left side of the chest, upper left side of the abdomen, left arm and back.

Tremayne and Brown were transported by ambulances to an area hospital, but authorities said Florence refused medical attention. There was no immediate word on the victims’ conditions.

So far, no one has been arrested in connection to the bloody attack.

The incident happened nearly two years after Tariq Quadir Loat, a visitor from Delaware, was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla.

La Perla became world-renowned after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a chart-topping hit song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

With Post wires

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3 American tourists stabbed in Puerto Rico neighborhood

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Three tourists from the U.S. mainland were stabbed in Puerto Rico early Monday after police said someone told them to stop filming in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said. Two of the tourists were in the hospital, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

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La Perla is in the historic part of Puerto Rico's capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of "Despacito," a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island's biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a raid by federal agents in 2011 .

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3 US tourists stabbed in Puerto Rico after being told to stop filming

Three U.S. tourists were stabbed in Puerto Rico early Monday after police said someone told them to stop filming in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.

Two of the tourists remain hospitalized, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

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3 mainland US tourists stabbed in Puerto Rico neighborhood

FILE - An aerial view of the seaside neighborhood of La Perla, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 25, 2017. Three U.S. tourists were stabbed in La Perla early Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 after someone told them to stop filming, and two of them remain hospitalized, according to police. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo, File)

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Three tourists from the U.S. mainland were stabbed in Puerto Rico early Monday after police said someone told them to stop filming in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.

Two of the tourists remain hospitalized, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

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Three American tourists stabbed after being told to stop filming in popular Puerto Rico neighbourhood

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Three U.S. tourists were stabbed in Puerto Rico early Monday after police said someone told them to stop filming in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina , began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.

Two of the tourists remain hospitalised, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

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3 mainland US tourists stabbed in Puerto Rico neighborhood

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Three tourists from the U.S. mainland were stabbed in Puerto Rico early Monday after police said someone told them to stop filming in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.

Two of the tourists remain hospitalized, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

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3 US tourists, including 1 from SC, stabbed in popular Puerto Rican neighborhood

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Three U.S. tourists were stabbed in Puerto Rico early Monday after police said someone told them to stop filming in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.

Two of the tourists remain hospitalized, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

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3 mainland U.S. tourists stabbed in Puerto Rico neighborhood

By Associated Press

Feb. 6, 2023

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An aerial view of the seaside neighborhood of La Perla, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in August 2017. Three U.S. tourists were stabbed in La Perla early today, after someone told them to stop filming, and two of them remain hospitalized, according to police.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico >> Three tourists from the U.S. mainland were stabbed in Puerto Rico early today after police said someone told them to stop filming in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.

Two of the tourists remain hospitalized, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

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3 mainland US tourists stabbed in Puerto Rico neighborhood

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Three tourists from the U.S. mainland were stabbed  in Puerto Rico  early Monday after police said someone told them to stop filming in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.

Two of the tourists remain hospitalized, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware  was killed and set on fire  after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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American Tourist Killed in La Perla, Puerto Rico, Named As Tariq Quadir Loat

The burned body of a U.S. citizen from Delaware has been found in Puerto Rico, three days after he went missing in the popular seaside district of San Juan.

The body was identified as 24-year-old tourist Tariq Quadir Loat, a resident of Wilmington, on Tuesday, multiple news outlets have reported.

Loat had gone missing three days earlier when he and a friend, James Jackson, were attacked after buying drugs in the shantytown of La Perla, according to news agency AP.

Police Commissioner Antonio Lopez Figueroa reportedly said that the pair had purchased unspecified drugs on Saturday.

They were then trying to take photographs on an area in La Perla after people told them not to and a dispute broke out. Loat and Jackson were beaten up with items including an exercise weight, a piece of wood and a deep fryer, police added.

Jackson managed to flee the scene and was hospitalized for his injuries, but Loat disappeared.

Police said his body was found on Sunday in Vega Baja, a town about 20 miles west of San Juan. The body had been burned and was later identified as Loat by his fingerprints.

The attackers have yet to be identified, police added.

Relatives of Loat, including his six months pregnant partner, arrived in Puerto Rico ahead of the body's identification, according to Prima Hora.

The newspaper reported that Loat and Jackson were travelling in a 2020 Nissan Rouge bus at around 6 p.m. on Sunday when they got out to take photos and videos.

But they were then surrounded by a group of people who told them that they could not take photos because this could attract police to the area, Prima Hora reported.

Tensions heightened with a heated discussion which turned physical, seeing five vehicles colliding during the chaos, the newspaper added.

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The Caribbean island, which has a population of 3.3 million, rarely sees tourists being killed. A 29-year-old man from Denver, Colorado was the last tourist to be reported killed on the island in February 2020.

A decade ago, the island saw a record number of killings while La Perla, which is s considered the island's biggest heroin distribution point, was historically a slum controlled by rival drug gangs.

However, this reputation has faded in recent years after the music video for the 2017 song "Despacito" by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee was filmed in the town.

La Perla has become an increasingly popular hotspot for tourists since criminal activity in the town was greatly reduced following a raid by federal agents in 2011.

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3 mainland US tourists stabbed in Puerto Rico neighborhood

The Associated Press

February 6, 2023, 2:40 PM

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Three tourists from the U.S. mainland were stabbed in Puerto Rico early Monday after police said someone told them to stop filming in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.

Two of the tourists remain hospitalized, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

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3 mainland US tourists stabbed in Puerto Rico neighborhood

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Three tourists from the U.S. mainland were stabbed  in Puerto Rico  early Monday after police said someone told them to stop filming in a renowned seaside community known as La Perla that is popular with visitors.

The confrontation began when one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart and was told to stop and leave the area, police said.

Two of the tourists remain hospitalized, including one who was stabbed six times, police said.

No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware  was killed and set on fire  after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

The community was once a dangerous slum considered the island’s biggest distribution point for heroin, but crime has dropped since a 2011 raid by federal agents.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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American tourist dies, U.S. Marine missing in separate incidents off Puerto Rico coast

Updated on: March 29, 2024 / 7:54 AM EDT / CBS/AP

The U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday it is searching for a U.S. Marine who went swimming in high surf off Puerto Rico's northeast coast while on vacation, while another American tourist died in a separate incident in the dangerous surf.

Officials identified the missing Marine as 26-year-old Samuel Wanjiru from Massachusetts and said he was visiting the island with his family. He went missing Wednesday afternoon after going into the water at La Pared beach in Luquillo. Video posted on social media by Puerto Rico's Bureau of Emergency Management and Disaster Administration showed divers jump from a helicopter in search for the man.

[AMPLIACIÓN] Buzos de FURA de la @PRPDNoticias se tiran del helicóptero para verificar un área de interés durante la búsqueda del joven de 26 años reportado como desaparecido en Luquillo. Les acompaña lancha de FURA, personal del NMEAD en jet ski y uno de los voluntarios. pic.twitter.com/V1HszdSLDi — Manejo de Emergencias (@NMEADpr) March 28, 2024

Also on Wednesday, another American tourist died in northwest Puerto Rico after authorities said he rescued his teenage children who had been swept away by heavy surf.

"This month has been deadly when it comes to beach drownings in the area of Puerto Rico," said Capt. Jose E. Díaz, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan. "People need to realize that the situation is serious enough to limit our ability to respond to search and rescue cases with surface vessels without further endangering our crews and assets. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones to the sea, we hope they find strength during this most difficult time." 

A high surf advisory was issued late Tuesday for Puerto Rico's northwest, north and northeast coasts and will remain in effect until late Thursday, with waves of up to 12 feet (4 meters).

Díaz noted that most open ocean beaches in Puerto Rico do not have lifeguards.

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U.S. tourist killed in Puerto Rico after no-photo warning following drug purchase

The burned body of a 24-year-old tourist from Delaware was identified on Tuesday, three days after he and a friend were attacked following a drug purchase in a seaside San Juan district popular with visitors, Puerto Rican police said.

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2 US Tourists Stabbed, 1 Assaulted in Popular Puerto Rican Neighborhood

The attack happened in the renowned seaside community known as la perla that is popular with visitors, published february 6, 2023.

Two U.S. tourists were stabbed and another one assaulted in Puerto Rico early Monday after a confrontation that police said was sparked when someone told them to stop filming a food vendor's cart in a renowned seaside community that is popular with visitors.

Authorities said one of the tourists, who lives in South Carolina, began filming a mobile hamburger cart in La Perla and was told by a man to stop and leave the area, saying they were not welcomed there, police said.

Following the warning, the man assaulted the victim and the three tourists began to retreat, according to Telemundo Puerto Rico . The tourists then realized they were being followed and while leaving La Perla, the man attacked two of them with a knife, stabbing one of the tourists at least six times.

The two wounded victims were hospitalized in stable condition, police said.

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No one has been arrested.

The attack happened nearly two years after a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he was warned not to take pictures while buying drugs in La Perla. A friend of his also was beaten but survived.

La Perla is located in the historic part of Puerto Rico’s capital known as Old San Juan and became famous after it was featured in the video of “Despacito,” a song released in 2017 by Puerto Rican singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

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3 U.S. tourists stabbed in popular Puerto Rican neighborhood

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Busy day in Orlando: Puerto Rican Parade, Magic Playoff impact downtown traffic

ORLANDO, Fla. — It is one of the state’s biggest celebrations of Puerto Rican pride.

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Thousands of boricuas will be hitting the streets of downtown Orlando.

The event will also celebrate the municipality of Juncos , nicknamed “La Ciudad del Valenciano,” Spanish for “the Valencian city.”

The city is known not only for its famous sports scene – but also for being a major business hub.

Read: Watch the Florida Puerto Rican Parade on Channel 9

“People think this is tourism, all this type of thing is manufacturing,” said Fernando Rivera, director of the Puerto Rico Research Hub. “And a lot of manufacturing in home goods, you know, pharmaceuticals, machinery, electrical supplies.”

As we inch closer to election season, parade organizers have also emphasized the importance of the Latino vote and civic engagement as part of the celebrations.

As many as 25,000 people joined the fun last year, and organizers expect twice as many parade-goers to attend this year.

Read: Magic look to pick up where they left off for game 4

This year’s parade theme is “Civic Engagement and Responsibilities.”

The parade route will begin at Robinson Street and Rosalind Avenue.

Participants will march past Lake Eola Park, cross Central Boulevard, head up Orange Avenue and end at Livingston Street.

Read: Hope Community Center helps engagement with Central Florida’s Puerto Rican community

And it will be a busy day downtown with the Orlando Magic taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game 4 of the playoffs series, starting at 1 p.m. at the Kia Center.

Magic fans hope to even the series for their first playoff series in five years, so be prepared for big crowds and heavy traffic.

And if you can’t make it to downtown Orlando today, join Eyewitness News This Morning’s Kirstin Delgado and Alexa Lorenzo for live coverage of the parade at 11 a.m. on Channel 9.

Downtown Orlando traffic guide for PR Parade and Magic game Downtown Orlando traffic guide for PR Parade and Magic game (WFTV)

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• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

Puerto Rico Police Officer Indicted on Child Exploitation Charges

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — An officer from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau was arrested on criminal charges related to child exploitation April 15.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan special agents arrested Luis Javier Perez-Badillo, a 49-year-old man from Aguadilla, whom a federal grand jury indicted April 10. Perez-Badillo is accused of production, possession and transportation of child pornography.

From on or about Oct. 11, 2023, through February 21, 2024, Perez-Badillo used a cellphone to knowingly employ, use, persuade, induce, entice and coerce a 12-year-old girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct and to transport child sexual abuse material. He knowingly possessed and accessed these images.

“This individual does not represent our police officers, who are a prestige force that, day by day, sacrifice their lives to protect our community. This individual represents a predator that abused his position of public trust to engage in a despicable act,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos. “The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force mission is to protect our children but most importantly to send a clear message that nobody is above the law; our children are sacred, and we will exhaust all resources in protecting them.”

If convicted, Perez-Badillo faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison for the charges of production of child pornography; a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and up to 20 years in prison for transportation of child pornography; and a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography. Any sentence he receives will be followed by a term of supervised release of no less than five years and up to life. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

“The U.S. attorney’s office will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute persons who exploit minors for sexual purposes,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow. “The defendant, who was entrusted by the community to serve and protect, violated that trust by sexually exploiting a child. As this case demonstrates, those who prey on children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina M. Agrait-Barreto is prosecuting the case.

The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force, led by HSI, is in charge of the investigation.

For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators visit the Know2Protect K2P Kids page , and to report suspicious activity, call 1-877-4-HSI-TIP .

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. attorneys' offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

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

HSI is the principal investigative arm of 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’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.