An El Paso man, Enrique Ruvalcaba-Mendez, has been handed a 20-year prison sentence for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of minors across international borders, specifically in Mexico. The sentencing follows his guilty plea this past July and comes as the result of an investigation that began with a routine check at a border port of entry.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, on January 10, Ruvalcaba-Mendez was subject to secondary inspection at the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry, during which U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found his phone contained several photos and videos depicting sexual acts with underage girls. While the charges stem from misconduct divulged by the contents of his phone, the investigation uncovered that Ruvalcaba-Mendez made trips to Ciudad Juárez to engage in and record sexual acts with minors.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons made the announcement following Ruvalcaba-Mendez's sentencing by U.S. District Judge David Briones on September 24. Simmons' announcement detailed the abuse of at least three minors by the 71-year-old defendant.
The case was a collaborative investigation between ICE Homeland Security Investigations and CBP, with assistance from the HSI Assistant Attaché Office in Ciudad Juárez. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane Romero, prosecuted the case, which has culminated in a significant prison term for Ruvalcaba-Mendez, reflecting the grave nature of his offenses.
