Joseph Cruz-Santiago, a 32-year-old resident of Caguas, Puerto Rico, was arrested on September 2, 2025, by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents. The arrest follows a federal grand jury indictment on August 28, 2025, charging Cruz-Santiago with several offenses related to child exploitation.
According to court documents, from December 2024 to February 2025, Cruz-Santiago allegedly used a cellphone and online platforms to persuade and coerce two female minors—one aged 11 and another between the ages of 11 and 12—to engage in sexual activity. He is accused of producing sexually explicit images involving these minors. Additional charges include receipt and possession of child exploitation material as well as transferring obscene material to the minor victims via the internet.
The indictment further alleges that between July 13, 2024, and July 2, 2025, Cruz-Santiago knowingly possessed and accessed images of child pornography involving prepubescent minors or children under the age of twelve.
“There’s no greater priority than safeguarding our children from those who seek to exploit or harm them,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of child sexual predators. We will not rest until those who commit these heinous crimes are brought to justice.”
Rebecca González-Ramos, HSI San Juan’s Special Agent in Charge said: “Child predators will find endless ways to manipulate their victims as part of their ill behavior. It’s important that we understand the mechanisms they are using and the risks our children have online. Parents and trusted adults must commit to educate themselves about potential threats and the latest online platforms to protect our children from sexual exploitation. Let’s all together take a Pledge to Protect.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina M. Agrait-Barreto is prosecuting the case as part of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit. The investigation is being led by HSI through the Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force.
If convicted on all counts, Cruz-Santiago faces significant penalties: at least fifteen years up to thirty years for sexual exploitation of a minor; ten years up to life for coercion and enticement; five years up to twenty years for receipt of child exploitation material; twenty years minimum up to ten years maximum for possession (noting an apparent discrepancy in statutory ranges); and up to ten years for transfer of obscene material. Sentences would be followed by supervised release ranging from five years up to life.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation nationwide by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies (www.justice.gov/psc).
Authorities remind that an indictment is only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
For more information about HSI’s work protecting children or how to report suspicious activities visit Know2Protect.gov or contact HSI San Juan at 787-729-6969 or IntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov.
