U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have arrested Raul Moises Martinez Rivera, a 25-year-old teacher from Carolina, at a charter school in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The arrest, which took place on April 10, is in connection with charges of alleged child exploitation.
A federal grand jury indicted Martinez Rivera on April 3. The indictment includes two counts: coercion and enticement of a minor, and the transfer of obscene material to a minor.
Court documents indicate that from November to December 2024, Martinez Rivera allegedly used a cellular phone and internet messaging services to persuade a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, he is accused of transferring obscene material to the minor over the internet.
“Protecting our children from online predators is one of our highest priorities, especially those that take advantage of their position of trust,” stated ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge San Juan Rebecca González-Ramos. She added, “This individual does not represent the commitment and dedication of the teachers in Puerto Rico. HSI remains vigilant to aggressively pursue those who exploit minors. We will continue to work tirelessly to safeguard our communities and hold offenders accountable.”
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Jenifer Hernandez-Vega and Assistant United States Attorney Daynelle Alvarez Lora from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit.
If convicted, Martinez Rivera could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. Any sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
To learn more about HSI’s initiatives to protect children from sexual predators, visit https://www.dhs.gov/k2p. Suspicious activities can be reported by calling 787-729-6969 in Puerto Rico or the ICE Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
It is important to remember that an indictment is an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
