An Arizona resident with connections to Missoula, Manuel Flores, 71, has been arraigned on a federal charge of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Flores entered a not guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto in Missoula. He will remain in detention as the case proceeds.
The indictment alleges that between June 2024 and August 17, 2025, Flores used the internet and a cellular phone to attempt to persuade or coerce an individual under the age of 18 to engage in illegal sexual activity. The alleged conduct took place in both Montana and Arizona.
If convicted, Flores faces a potential sentence ranging from ten years to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for five years to life.
U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme commented on the arraignment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Montana Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force together with the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office.
“The charging document is merely an accusation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Authorities are asking anyone with information about possible crimes involving Flores or child exploitation cases to contact the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office at (801) 579-1400 or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
Case progress can be followed through the U.S. District Court Calendar or via PACER, which provides electronic access to court documents after registering at http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. The court calendar is available at https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
