A 35-year-old man who thought he was meeting up with a 13-year-old boy is facing up to life in prison after he was found guilty of attempting to engage in sexual activity with the child.
Gabriel Almenas Carrasquillo, who is from Orlando, was found guilty last week of using the internet and his cellphone to attempt to entice a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Almenas was ordered detained after the return of the verdict and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 18, 2023.
According to evidence and testimony introduced during a three-day trial, Almenas began speaking with a 13-year-old child through a social media application on August 11, 2022. That child was in fact an undercover agent with the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation who was posing as a child that was seeking to identify individuals with a sexual interest in children.
Alemans initially messaged the agent “You r really beautiful.” When Almenas asked if the child was 18 years old, the agent advised that he was “a little younger,” before stating that he’d be “fourteen in a few months.” Almenas responded, “oh wow you look really quite develop,” indicating that he was “down to keep getting to know” the child more.
The two individuals discussed meeting and Almenas confirmed that the child would be alone and without supervision for the duration of the evening. Almenas then suggested that the two move the online conversation to another social media app.
On that app, Almenas described sexual acts that he wanted to perform on the child and sent the agent a video depicting his genitalia.
A short time later, Almenas drove to a prearranged location in Orlando where he believed that the child was staying and was subsequently arrested.
During an interview with Almenas, he stated that he knew the child was underage and agreed that he “took a chance and showed up for the 13-year-old.” He admitted to bringing lubricant to engage in sexual acts with the child.
Almenas now faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison, with a potential life term of supervised release.