Evergreen Reporter

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On August 15, 2024, Melanie Cruz Clivilles was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordan to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for making false statements to a task force officer of the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in relation to a criminal investigation.

Defendant Melanie Cruz Clivilles was the mother of 13-year-old female minor G.L.C.C., who died of a drug overdose in August 2023 and had been brought by 26-year-old Bryan Xavier Pérez Hernández to the hospital. Bryan Xavier Pérez Hernández was charged with production of child exploitation material and drug trafficking in relation to the deceased minor.

According to court documents, Bryan Xavier Pérez Hernández attempted to induce, entice, and coerce 13-year-old female minor G.L.C.C. to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child exploitation material. Pérez Hernández was also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and distribution of cocaine to a minor. Pérez Hernández pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2024.

Melanie Cruz Clivilles was charged with lying to a federal law enforcement agent. Cruz Clivilles made a materially false statement by falsely stating to a Task Force Officer of HSI that she first met Bryan Xavier Pérez Hernández at the hospital on August 4, 2023, where he arrived with her deceased daughter G.L.C.C. The statement was false because she had met Pérez Hernández at the latest in July 2023 and had been with him during a meeting on August 3, 2023.

U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Rebecca González-Ramos, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenifer Hernández Vega prosecuted the case as Chief of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit.

For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators visit https://www.ice.gov/topics/iGuardians; and to report suspicious activities call 787-729-6969.

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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