CHRISTIANSTED – A federal sting operation on St. Croix has netted two sexual predators on the Big Island.
Josue Navarro, 36, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, pleaded guilty on Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Cannon, Jr., to attempted coercion and enticement for illegal sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on or about June 23, 2017 to June 25, 2017, law enforcement officers operating in an undercover capacity created and posted ads online.
The post was captioned “home 4 the summer, looking fun in the sun NSA.” The ad was posted by a law enforcement officer posing as a 14-year-old female named “Niema.”
On June 24, 2017 at 8:43 p.m., “Niema” asked the defendant if he brought something “cause I don’t wanna get pregnant, my mother will kill me,” to which the defendant responded “yes.” At 9:03 “Niema” told the defendant she was 14. At 9:18 p.m., the defendant said “[L]emme come get you n we go get whatever it is u want.”
At 11:02 the defendant texted the following to “Niema” and in highly graphic language offered suggestions as to methods and means for sexual penetration which he offered to provide to “Niema.”
On June 25, 2017, at 1:19 p.m., the defendant texted “Niema,” asking to engage in other sex acts involving carnal knowledge. At 4:35 p.m., the defendant told “Niema” “[L]et me come pick you up.” The defendant was to meet with “Niema” at an arranged location in St. Croix and was taken into custody by law enforcement.
Navarro faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
A sentencing date has been set for January 2, 2019.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.
