SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On September 3, 2026, after a four-day jury trial, Willie Torres-Gerena, 60, of Arecibo, PR, was found guilty of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the trial.
On January 25, 2024, FBI Special Agents arrested Torres-Gerena, former boxing coach, for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a 16-year-old female minor. Evidence and witness testimonies presented during trial revealed that the defendant, who was a trusted father figure for the victim, invited her to lunch and instead transported her to a motel and attempted to rape her.
“These cases are particularly sensitive and require expertise, patience, understanding, and compassion for the victim,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Héctor Ramírez Carbó. “This verdict sends a clear message that those who exploit minors or attempt to do so will be held fully accountable and face significant consequences for their crimes.”
“Today’s verdict reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Thanks to the courage of the victim and the dedicated work of our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, justice was served. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who exploit or harm children are brought to account, no exceptions.”
The defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, followed by a supervised release term of five years up to life. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, at 9:00 am. The defendant was ordered detained in custody of the Bureau of Prisons pending sentencing.
The FBI investigated the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daynelle Álvarez‑Lora and Fabiola Rivera-Laboy from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
