A San Juan man has been handed a 25-year prison sentence for his plot to sexually assault a nine-year-old child, a plan he crafted using a social media app, the Justice Department said Tuesday. Jorge Eduardo Naranjo, 21, was convicted for coercion and enticement of a minor after entering a guilty plea last July, admitting his intent to commit the heinous act.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane presided over Naranjo's case and meted out the lengthy sentence due to a combination of factors: the predator's history of offenses against minors, the young age of the intended victim, and the commercial nature of sexual act he planned. During the trial, evidence surfaced that Naranjo had carefully curated his life to gain access to children through his job at a children’s store. Furthermore, reports from the court revealed his expressed desire to father a daughter for the sole purpose of sexually assaulting her. The court also learned that Naranjo was caught with hundreds of child pornography files which he also distributed.
In a statement from U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani obtained by The Department of Justice, Naranjo exhibited some of the most dangerous behavior for our society,” Hamdani continued, “He is a predator – he made specific inquiries about how to prevent children from reporting sexual abuse and if a nine-year-old could become pregnant. Thankfully, our partners put a stop to his threat and, together, we have taken another step in keeping our community safe from these reprehensible crimes.”
Naranjo, who used the moniker "Bored Dude" on an unnamed social media site, initiated communication with someone he believed to be the parent of a nine-year-old, discussing his intentions to engage in sexual activity with the child, whom he referred to as "little." He also sent the individual child pornography and questioned how to prevent a child from reporting abuse, even questioning the possibility of pregnancy following his planned assault. He was arrested upon arrival at an Edinburg hotel, where he was expected to carry out his plans by law enforcement officers lying in wait. The FBI led the investigation leading to Naranjo's capture and conviction.
The case against Naranjo was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker as part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative aimed at combating the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. More information on Project Safe Childhood and Internet safety education can be found on the DOJ's dedicated webpage for the initiative.
