Kleider Enrique Garcia Ochoa, a 30-year-old Venezuelan national present in the United States without authorization, pleaded guilty on Apr. 1 before U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, according to United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall.
Ochoa admitted using social media under the name “Conociendo” in an attempt to convince someone he believed was a 15-year-old boy in Denham Springs, Louisiana, to engage in illegal sexual activity with him. He agreed to travel to Denham Springs to pick up the supposed minor for sexual acts but was arrested by law enforcement when he arrived at the location after communicating with an undercover officer posing as the boy.
During these communications, Ochoa sent images of himself and his genitals and requested sexually explicit images from the undercover officer. He also asked for the supposed minor’s location and expressed intent to meet for illegal sex acts.
Ochoa faces a minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in prison, along with a $250,000 fine, supervised release that could last for life, mandatory sex offender registration requirements, and possible removal or deportation from the United States upon completion of his sentence.
“This guilty plea is the result of great teamwork between our law enforcement partners and our prosecutors,” said U.S. Attorney Wall. “An illegal immigrant, who was attempting to commit a sex offense with someone he believed to be 15-years-old, will now be going to prison for a long time. This is a good day for justice!”
The investigation involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations; and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allen Ross are prosecuting this case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation—and Operation Take Back America.
