Federal agents say a Coral Gables man walked into a sting after he allegedly tried to pay what he thought was a 14-year-old boy for sex. The person on the other end of the messages was actually an undercover FBI agent, and investigators say the online exchange on a dating app turned into a planned meet-up in the Miami area. The man is now facing two federal charges tied to alleged efforts to entice and traffic a minor.
According to federal court records, the suspect is 38-year-old Pavel Acosta Ruano of Coral Gables. Investigators say he first contacted an undercover agent on Grindr on July 2, then shifted the conversation to WhatsApp. The complaint alleges Acosta Ruano initially offered $200, conditional on sex, and later raised the offer to $300 after the agent sent a photo. Agents say he then arranged a rideshare to pick up the supposed teen at a McDonald’s in Miami Springs and ultimately showed up outside a Publix near his Coral Gables apartment, where he met law enforcement. These details come from court documents obtained by Local 10.
Inside the Alleged Grindr Exchange
The complaint describes several days of messages in which Acosta Ruano allegedly pushed for sex and worked out money and logistics even after the undercover account twice stated that the person was under 18. At one point, the agent quotes him as saying, “I am a good person.” The filing says Acosta Ruano claimed he was 28, while the agent repeatedly identified the account as a 14-year-old. Federal jail records show he was being held at the Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami, and court calendars did not yet list an upcoming hearing at the time, according to Local 10.
Federal Charges and Potential Prison Time
Prosecutors have charged Acosta Ruano in Miami federal court with attempted sex trafficking of a minor and attempted coercion and enticement to engage in sexual activity, both serious federal offenses. Under the coercion and enticement statute, an offense involving someone under 18 carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life, as outlined in 18 U.S.C. §2422(b). The child-trafficking statute gives prosecutors additional tools and enhanced penalties when a minor is involved, as described in 18 U.S.C. §1591.
Broader Federal Push Against Online Child Exploitation
Federal prosecutors and the FBI have been ramping up undercover operations and coordinated crackdowns aimed at adults who use apps and social media to target children, a pattern officials say is playing out across the country. In recent years, large multi-agency sweeps have resulted in hundreds of arrests and the recovery of child victims, according to summaries of nationwide enforcement actions from the FBI.
The allegations against Acosta Ruano are drawn from federal court filings, which are accusations, not proof. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court, and records at the time did not show a scheduled hearing in the case.
