Evergreen Reporter

Three individuals have been arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on charges related to child exploitation in Puerto Rico.

On August 8, Eric Jonuel Collazo-Colón, 33, from Orocovis, was taken into custody. A federal grand jury indicted Collazo-Colón on August 1 on four counts: coercion and enticement of a minor, sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child exploitation material, and transfer of obscene material. Court documents indicate that from October 2023 through June 2024, Collazo-Colón used various electronic devices to persuade a female minor aged between 14 and 15 to engage in sexual activity and explicit conduct. He also produced, received, and transmitted child exploitation material during this period.

If convicted, Collazo-Colón faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment. Assistant US Attorney Jenifer Y. Hernández-Vega is prosecuting the case.

In another case, Jason Daniel Vargas, 19, from Manatí was arrested on August 8 following an indictment issued on August 7. Vargas is charged with coercion and enticement of a minor and transferring obscene material to a minor. The indictment alleges that in March 2023, Vargas used a cellular phone and iPad to induce an 11-year-old female minor to engage in sexual activity and transferred obscene material to her.

Vargas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years if convicted. Assistant US Attorney Daynelle Álvarez Lora is handling the prosecution.

Roberto Rosa Martínez, 39, from Bayamón was also arrested on August 8 for production of child pornography. According to an indictment filed on August 1, Rosa Martínez coerced a 13-year-old female minor into sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions.

Rosa Martínez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years if convicted. Assistant US Attorney Daynelle Álvarez Lora is prosecuting this case as well.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to continuing our joint efforts with our state, local and federal partners to locate these offenders and ensure that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

Rebecca González Ramos, Special Agent in Charge of HSI stated: “It is important for our society to understand the importance of protecting our children from predators... It is our responsibility to protect our children... HSI will continue to pursue perpetrators tirelessly.”

For more information about HSI’s efforts against child predators or online sexual abuse visit their website or call their hotline at 787-729-6969.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood initiated by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide.

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

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