Two Men Arrested for Child Exploitation

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – In two separate cases, Federal Bureau of Investigations special agents, with the support of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, arrested two men charged with child exploitation.

According to court documents, from June 2022 through June 2023, Rafael A. Pérez Rodríguez, 19, from Ponce, PR knowingly transported child exploitation material in his cellular phone; distributed and received child pornography; and possessed images of child pornography, including pictures of prepubescent minors, or minors who had not attained 12 years of age. Assistant United States Attorney Emelina M. Agrait Barreto, from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting this case.

In an unrelated case, FBI arrested Emiliano Echevarría Collado, 41, from Ponce, PR, for attempted production and attempted possession of child pornography. From October 1^st through October 2, 2021, Echevarría Collado attempted to employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a 15-year-old female minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case.

“Soliciting the production of child sexual abuse material is a particularly disturbing crime,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The arrests that we announced today reflect the unwavering commitment of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners to stand up for victims and to hold offenders accountable for their conduct.”

“Children are not only the most vulnerable members of society but also its future,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Criminals who target children are a threat to the very fabric of strong and functional communities. This is why the FBI is committed to continuing our work of putting these violent sex offenders behind bars and we urge the public to report these heinous crimes by calling 787-987-6500 or leaving a tip online visiting tips.FBI.gov”.

If convicted, Rafael A. Pérez Rodríguez faces a minimum sentence of 10 years up to 20 years in prison. Emiliano Echevarría Collado faces a statutory minimum sentence of 15 years up to 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI San Juan Field Office is investigating the cases.

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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