McALLEN, Texas - Lydia Vasquez, 42, of Edcouch, has been ordered to federal prison following her conviction of enticing an individual to travel in interstate commerce in order to engage in illicit sexual activity, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. She pleaded guilty Dec. 5, 2014.
At the time of her plea, Vasquez admitted that on July 28, 2014, she began communicating with a 45-year-old male, who was later identified as an undercover source, in regards to a minor female relative. Throughout the next few weeks, Vasquez told the individual she wanted him to come to Texas from Michigan in so he could help the minor female relative explore sexually.
Vasquez and the adult male discussed specific acts which would constitute indecency with a child under the Texas Penal Code.
On Aug. 22, 2014, Vasquez went to the McAllen Miller International Airport in order to meet the male whom she believed had traveled from Detroit, Michigan, to McAllen. She was then taken into custody.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez handed Vasquez a sentence of 140 months in federal prison. In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez stated that she needed to protect children from Vasquez; both her own and any child that would come into contact with Vasquez. She will also be required to register as a sex offender and will serve three years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. Judge Alvarez noted that she had listened to the recorded calls between Vasquez and the undercover source and heard the sexual abuse Vasquez had proposed occur. Judge Alvarez noted this is a case that she will never be able to get out of her head.
She will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Ann Leo and Steven Schammel prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
