A 42-YEAR-OLD religion teacher has been accused of trafficking children and tricking them into performing sick sex acts for money.
Lizamarie Rivera-Garcia was arrested on Monday after federal investigators uncovered the months-long scheme.
She’s accused of targeting a 15-year-old boy from December 2023 to October 2024 and a 17-year-old boy from December 2023 to November 2024, according to W. Stephen Muldrow, US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
The former teacher, residing in San Juan, was taken into custody on Monday. A photo of her in handcuffs, escorted by police officers, was released by HSI.
In a searing statement, Muldrow said, “The sexual exploitation of children robs children of their freedom, dignity, and sense of security.
“Such conduct is unacceptable in our society.
“The US Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to using every tool available to prosecute sex traffickers and to obtain justice for the victims.”
Along with the sex trafficking charges, Rivera-Garcia is accused of employing, using, persuading, inducing, enticing, and coercing the 15-year-old to have sex.
She’s also facing charges for transporting him with the intent that he would have sex for money.
It’s unclear whether either of the teen boys was Rivera-Garcia’s student when they were targeted.
Officials didn’t release any other details about the horrific alleged crimes.
“We cannot let our guard down,” said Rebecca C. Gonzalez-Ramos, HSI San Juan’s special agent in charge.
“Our children are being sexually exploited by individuals in positions of public trust.
“Law enforcement agencies are committed to being the voice of these victims.”
‘DEVELOPING A PLAN’
Gonzalez-Ramos said that children affected by the trauma will get necessary assistance and that officers are working hard to get sexual predators off the streets.
“A female religion teacher that had the responsibility to guiding our children about principles and beliefs was actually developing a plan to sexually assault them,” she said.
“HSI and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau are committed to protecting our children.
“We will not let these acts happen on our watch.”
Gonzalez-Ramos has been charged with sex trafficking of a child, which has a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years up to life in prison.
She’s also been charged with transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, which has a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life in prison.
Additionally, she’s facing charges for coercion and enticement of a minor, which has a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life in prison.
This case will be led by an assistant attorney with the DHS’s Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit.
