Two men have been accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, as it made its way to PortMiami. Ricardo Daniel Mondragon Leal, 37, and Jose Juan Prudencio Diaz, 36, reportedly from the same apartment building in Mexico City, were arrested last Friday following the incident which is said to have occurred in the ship's sauna. According to an arrest report obtained by NBC Miami, the teen described a traumatic experience where he was subjected to the men pleasuring themselves before being touched and forced to engage in sexual acts.
Mondragon faces charges of sexual battery of a minor and other lewd and lascivious conduct, while Diaz is also charged for failing to disclose his HIV status during a sexual act. In the courtroom, a prosecutor highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating, "This shows that they tried to target a specific minor, and this could be done again," as they were "denied bond" during their court hearings on Saturday, according to information provided by NBC Miami. Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges and face holds from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
As the legal process unfolds, the two men remain detained at the Miami-Dade Metro West Detention Center. The specifics of the alleged assault came to light when the teenager reported the abuse he endured in the sauna to authorities. "We take these allegations very seriously and immediately notified local law enforcement," a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson stated in an email shared by the Miami Herald. With the investigation still actively underway, the cruise line has refrained from providing further details at this time.
