A 31-year-old Aventura man was arrested after detectives say he spent weeks secretly contacting his ex-girlfriend's 11-year-old daughter, pushed for a private meeting and showed up expecting to find her. The case, police say, began with messages across several apps and ended with an undercover operation at an Aventura condominium.
According to WSVN, which reviewed an Aventura Police arrest affidavit, Daniel Ricardo Moreno continued contacting the girl after his relationship with her mother ended in May. Investigators said the mother had told Moreno not to contact her daughter and blocked his number on the child's phone, but police allege he kept reaching out through phone calls, texts, WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok.
The alleged messages encouraged the girl to keep the conversations secret, offered gifts and undermined her mother's authority. One July 3 message allegedly read, “We can sneak out maybe meet somewhere,” while investigators also said Moreno told her to delete messages and change his contact name to that of a classmate so her parents would not become suspicious.
Detectives Set Up A Meeting At An Aventura Condo
Detectives eventually posed as the 11-year-old during an undercover investigation, according to the arrest affidavit. WSVN reported that Moreno allegedly arranged to meet the undercover detective in the laundry room of the Ensenada Condominiums, then arrived on July 29 expecting to meet the child.
Aventura police detectives arrested Moreno at the scheduled meeting, police said. He faces charges of luring or enticing a child, unlawful use of a communications device, interference with custody and contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child.
Florida Law Was Recently Expanded To Cover Children Under 14
Florida's revised luring statute took effect October 1, 2025, expanding the law to cover an adult who intentionally lures or attempts to lure a child under 14 into or out of a structure, dwelling or conveyance for an unlawful purpose. The measure also raised a first offense under that provision to a third-degree felony, according to the Florida Senate.
Investigators described the alleged pattern of secrecy, gifts and efforts to arrange a private meeting as consistent with grooming tactics. The accusations remain allegations, and the arrest itself is not a finding of guilt.
