MIAMI — Two illegal immigrants – one of which is HIV positive – were arrested in Florida after allegedly molesting a minor on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
Jose Diaz, 36, and Ricardo Leal, 37, were taken into custody on Friday by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office after the pair allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy in the ship’s sauna, according to records reviewed by Local 10.
The victim told police that he found himself trapped in the sauna with the Mexican natives on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas on Thursday.
Jose Diaz (pictured), 36, and Ricardo Leal, 37, were taken into custody on Friday after the pair allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old boy onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship
The teen said Diaz, who is HIV positive, and Leal, each masturbated in front of the teen while forcing him to touch them, records show.
At one point, Leal allegedly forced the victim to perform a sex act on him and molested him, the report said.
Diaz and Leal, both Mexican natives, are facing several charges, including lewd and lascivious molestation on a child 12-16 years old.
The teen said Diaz and Leal (pictured), both Mexican natives, ‘began to perform sexual acts in front of him’ before they started to perform that same act on the minor without his consent
Diaz is also facing an additional charge for not disclosing his HIV status to the minor, while Leal is facing a sexual battery charge.
They were both arrested once the ship returned to Port Miami on Friday. It is unclear where the ship traveled prior to returning at the dock.
Diaz invoked his right to counsel while his alleged partner in crime told authorities that the “sexual acts were consensual,” the affidavit said.
The alleged incident occurred onboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas inside the sauna, according to the report. (Pictured: File photo of the Independence of the Seas)
They were each denied bond Saturday, as a prosecutor said: “The defendant, in this case, acting in concert with another defendant, they were both on a cruise.”
“This shows that they tried to target a specific minor, and this could be done again.”
Diaz is being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center while Leal is being held in the Metrowest Detention Center, jail records show.
They are each being held without bond and are also on immigration holds, records show.
They each reside at the same address in Mexico City, according to the outlet.
DailyMail.com contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.
In August 2024, a Texas man was arrested for allegedly raping a young woman on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas ship.
Juan Campos, 28, was accused of raping a 20-year-old woman on August 28 while on the boat.
The woman accused Campos of penetrating her with an unknown object and trying to force her into performing oral sex.
Campos’ lawyer argued the sex was consensual and that he stopped when he was asked.
“It was a normal cruise, he was with friends, they met some people on board and next thing you know, he’s charged with this crime,” attorney Ed Hoeg told Local 10.
The ship had spent seven days at sea, traveling through the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
By EMMA RICHTER/Daily Mail