Rochester Man Charged with Running Sex Trafficking Operation Involving a Minor Victim

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Marques Williams, 26, of Rochester, New York, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with sex trafficking of a minor. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the FBI received information that the defendant advertised a 15-year-old female as a prostitute on the Internet classified advertising service, Backpage.com. The minor victim was interviewed by the FBI and said that, between July 2011 and September 2011, she worked as a prostitute for Williams. According to the victim, the defendant taught the girl how to engage in prostitution activities and set the prices for her prostitution activities. The minor further stated that Williams took her to the East Avenue Inn in Rochester for prostitution purposes and paid for the room since she was underage. The victim also told the FBI that Williams took pictures of her for the Backpage.com advertisements.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

“Compelling any individual to engage in commercial sex activities is a more than a tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “When this egregious behavior involves a child, it is also a serious federal criminal offense that will be vigorously prosecuted by this office.”

The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cyber Crimes Task Force, which includes the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn; the Rochester Police Department under the direction of Chief James Sheppard; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Christopher M. Piehota, Special Agent in Charge.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Border Patrol Agents Apprehend 19 Cuban Migrants in the Florida Keys

Pembroke Pines, Fla. — Yesterday Border Patrol agents assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol’s Miami Sector apprehended 19 Cuban nationals on Boot Key near Marathon, Fla.

The group of 19 Cuban nationals consisted of 10 adult males, 8 adult females, and one minor accompanied by a parent. All appeared to be in good health and uninjured. None required medical treatment.

Agents took custody of the migrants and transported them to the Marathon Station for processing. The 19 migrants were confirmed as citizens of Cuba and released in accordance with the Cuban Readjustment Act.

The subjects claimed to have traveled to the United States in a rustic vessel; however, none was found in the area where the migrants were discovered.

Assistance was provided by local law enforcement partners from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection Office of Field operations, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Buffalo Man Arrested for Online Enticement of a 14-Year-Old

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jafet Rivera, 24, of Buffalo, New York, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with online enticement of a minor. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum of 30 and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant engaged in a series of sexually explicit online communications with a 14-year-old Rochester child. The child’s father found the chats on the family’s computer and reported the activity to the Rochester Police, who in turn contacted agents of the FBI’s Cybercrimes Division.

The FBI assumed the child’s online identity and agreed to meet with Rivera. The defendant traveled to Rochester via train this morning with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the child. He was arrested without incident at the Rochester Bus Station by FBI agents and members of the Rochester Police Department.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson this afternoon. Rivera is being detained pending a bail hearing which is scheduled for March 23, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

“This case should is a good example of why is it so important for parents to constantly monitor their child’s computer usage, said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “It was the parent who alerted law enforcement to the actions of this alleged predator. As a result, the defendant was stopped before he could hurt this child or any others. Our office, along with our partners at the federal, state, and local level, will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety of all of our youth.”

The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; members of the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief James M. Sheppard; and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.