A woman from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, has been indicted on charges of sex trafficking of children. Lizamarie Rivera-García, 42, was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents following the indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico.
“These charges reflect the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct inflicted on her victims,” stated W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. He emphasized that “the sexual exploitation of children robs children of their freedom, dignity and sense of security.”
Rebecca C. Gonzalez-Ramos, HSI San Juan’s Special Agent in Charge, commented on the issue: “We cannot let our guard down! Our children are being sexually exploited by individuals in positions of public trust.” She assured that HSI's multidisciplinary team is dedicated to ensuring that affected children receive necessary assistance.
According to court documents, Rivera-García allegedly recruited and transported minors for commercial sex acts between December 2023 and November 2024. The accusations include using internet services to transfer obscene matter to a minor under 16 years old.
If convicted, Rivera-García faces severe penalties including a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment ranging from 10 years up to life for various charges related to child sex trafficking and coercion.
The investigation is led by HSI San Juan with support from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elba Gorbea is prosecuting this case under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006.
For further details about efforts against child sexual predators or to report suspicious activities, authorities encourage visiting Know2Protect.gov or contacting local law enforcement agencies.
An indictment serves as an allegation; defendants remain innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
