BENTON, Ill. -- An Indiana man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a charge of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
The United States Attorney's Office Southern District of Illinois (USAOSDI) stated Diego A. Montes-Roldan, 27 of Indianapolis, was sentenced by a federal judge in southern Illinois to 20 years imprisonment after he admitted to traveling across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
Following his time in prison, Montes-Roldan will serve a lifetime of supervised release, USAOSDI stated.
鈥淧redators are actively scouting for victims online, but quick detection by parents and strong action by law enforcement can help to safeguard children,鈥� said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. 鈥淭he U.S. Attorney鈥檚 Office is proud to work with our partners to help keep children safe.鈥�
The charge for Montes-Roldan stems from texting conversations with two 14-year-old victims through social media, according to court documents.
鈥淭he FBI prioritizes protecting our most vulnerable and, in this case, combined law enforcement efforts saved young victims from irreparable harm,鈥� said FBI Springfield Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Rodriguez. 鈥淭his sentence puts Montes-Roldan behind bars for a significant amount of time and prevents further exploitation of innocent children.鈥�
Montes-Roldan was arrested by law enforcement in October 2021 after police received reports of some conversations between him and one of the minors.
鈥淧reying on youth is a diabolical crime and ISP is relentless when it comes to investigating predators,鈥� said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. 鈥淚SP will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at all levels to identify child predators and successfully bring them to justice."
