In a significant turn of events, a former Jacksonville detective has been sentenced to over two decades in prison for sexually exploiting a minor. Josue Garriga, also known as "Sway," received a 24-year and 4-month sentence for his crimes against a 17-year-old. This sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard, and following his time in prison, Garriga will be subjected to 10 years of supervised release and mandatory sex offender registration.
The U.S. Attorney's Office revealed that the former gang unit detective from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) initially met the victim at a church back in 2023. Garriga's predatory behavior included sexual contact with the minor, in some cases using his JSO-issued work vehicle, to meet and engage in illegal activity. He also exploited his position, harnessing both an undercover social media account and encrypted messaging to communicate and exchange explicit photos with the victim.
Detailed in the court documents was an incident where Garriga physically restrained the victim in his JSO vehicle, a grave misuse of his role as a law enforcement officer. His actions not only shattered the trust vested in him by the community but also scarred the life of a young individual at the cusp of adulthood. The forfeiture of two cellphones, utilized to commit the offenses, was also part of Garriga's sentence.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) in Jacksonville, Tim Hemker, condemned Garriga's conduct, "This individual violated his position of trust in the community and sought to take advantage of a child for his own satisfaction," as reported by the Department of Justice. The case resulted from efforts by the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, with significant contributions from HSI Jacksonville, JSO, and other local agencies. This collaborative work underscores their commitment to safeguarding the children in the community and punishing those who aim to exploit them.
The prosecution, led by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Kelly S. Milliron bears testament to the relentless pursuit of justice under Project Safe Childhood. This nationwide initiative addresses the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse and collaborates extensively across federal, state, and local levels, intending to bring predators to justice and rescue victims.
