Jesus Maldonado Initial Appearance
SEX OFFENDER DETAINED ON FEDERAL CHARGES OF ATTEMPTING TO ENTICE A MINOR, ATTEMPTING TO TRANSMIT OBSCENE MATERIAL TO A MINOR
PROVIDENCE – A registered sex offender from Waterbury, Conn., was ordered detained in federal custody in Rhode Island today on charges that he allegedly attempted to entice a minor, attempted to transmit obscene material to a minor, and that he committed these crimes while a registered sex offender.
It is alleged in court documents that Jesus Maldonado, 55, engaged in a series of sexually explicit online communications with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl living in Rhode Island while trying to arrange a meeting between the two, and that he allegedly sent obscene materials to this person.
The person Maldonado actually was communicating with is a Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
Maldonado was arrested in Waterbury, CT., on March 25, 2019, by Homeland Security Investigations agents and a Rhode Island State Police Detective. He was ordered detained following an appearance in U.S. District Court in New Haven on a federal criminal complaint issued in the District of Rhode Island that charges him with attempted enticement of a minor, attempted transmission of obscene matter to a minor, and commission of specified offenses while a registered sex offender.
Maldonado was transferred to Rhode Island and appeared today in U.S. District Court in Providence before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond.
Maldonado’s arrest and initial appearance in U.S. District Court are announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Colonel James M. Manni, and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh.
According to court documents, it is alleged that beginning on March 13, 2019, Maldonado began engaging in a series of sexually explicit online chatroom communications with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl living in Rhode Island. The communications allegedly included discussions about Maldonado and the person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl meeting in person to engage in illicit sexual activity. It is also alleged that Maldonado sent obscene photographs to the person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.
According to court records, Maldonado was convicted in 1993 in Connecticut state court for sexual assault and in 2008 in Illinois state court for sexually abusing a minor. In 2011, Maldonado was again arrested in Connecticut for sexually abusing a minor, at which time it was determined that Maldonado had failed to register as a sex offender as required as a result of his previous convictions.
In October 2011, Maldonado was convicted in U.S. District Court in the District of Connecticut and sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and a term of lifetime supervised release for failing to register as a sex offender. Among the court imposed conditions of release was that Maldonado was not to associate with children under the age of 18 unless an adult was present and who was aware of his criminal history.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.
United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Aaron L. Weisman acknowledges and thanks United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut John H. Durham and his office for their assistance in this matter.