Feds target 'sex tourists'

Published: March. 16, 2008 at 7:50 PM

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. government is cracking down on Americans who allegedly travel abroad to engage in sex with children.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Jorge Muentes, who allegedly thought he had booked a package trip to Costa Rica and 24 hours with a teen prostitute, was caught in an FBI sting.

When Muentes attempted to board his flight from Miami International Airport to San Jose on Nov. 15, federal authorities arrested the 48-year-old West Palm Beach resident.

Investigators said Muentes called the FBI's undercover travel agency in September 2007 responding to an advertisement in an adult magazine offering vacations with "clean, fun-loving companions of varying ages."

Muentes goes on trial Monday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the newspaper reported.

Authorities say since 2003 they have charged more than 70 alleged offenders attempting to go overseas for underage sex in such places as Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines and Costa Rica.

Muentes' attorney, David Markus, told the court that the charges against his client are for "a person's mere thought to do something abroad."

He wrote, "I'm all for catching child predators. The problem is instead of netting the real criminals, this sting draws in innocent people like Jorge Muentes."

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
UPI NewsTrack Business (7 min)
U.S. leading indicator rose in November (7 min)
Senior accused of slapping youth over slur (14 min)
Washington Redskins VP resigns (27 min)
Jobless claims higher again (37 min)
Cincinnati Bengal's WR Henry dies (45 min)
Diversity lacking in some stem cell lines
fark
Predator drone: $4.5 million. Off the shelf software: $26. Knowing the Iranians just hacked your...
Hippie suspended from school for long hair. Pay no attention to the fact that :a) The kid is four...
America's Sheriff says "People everywhere deserve a little Christmas cheer. Especially those incarcerated...
Christmas comes early from Citigroup: no home foreclosures for 30 magical days
The good news is you've weatherized your house so now you're only paying one third your previous...
Gloria Allred will be representing at least two of Tiger Woods' mistresses in what could soon become...