CARMEL – A Connecticut man found guilty in Putnam County Court two years ago for enticing a 13-year-old Putnam child to engage in sexual activity with him who was later sentenced to a state prison term, was extradited back to the Constitution State Thursday after Putnam Sheriff’s investigators obtained evidence through court ordered search warrants indicating 22-year-old Francisco Gomez of Norwalk may have committed similar offenses in Connecticut.
Working with the Sheriff’s Department and federal partners with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, detectives developed probable cause to arrest Gomez for offenses involving four juveniles that occurred in Norwalk.
Authorities in Connecticut said an agreement was reached between the state’s attorney’s offices in both states allowing Gomez to be transferred to Connecticut custody to complete his New York sentence while awaiting prosecution on the Connecticut charges.
Detectives traveled to the upstate maximum security Marcy Correctional Facility and brought Gomez back to Connecticut where he was charged with numerous felony offenses before being jailed on $250,000 bail.
Putnam County Special Victims Prosecutor Chana Kraus has reminded parents to be vigilant in monitoring their children’s social media accounts.
In the Putnam case, District Attorney Robert Tendy said after the victim’s mother discovered messages on her child’s social media platform, a “collaborative effort involving the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s staff, Homeland Security and Rockland County District Attorney investigators led to Gomez’ apprehension before he had the opportunity to meet and harm the victim.”
Tendy said on April 3, 2024 Gomez drove to Putnam to engage in sexual relations with the 13-year-old but instead law enforcement was waiting and arrested the predator without incident.
Krauss reminded the public that “predators are lurking online, grooming young children in an attempt to engage in sexual activity with them or to threaten them into sending sexually explicit videos.”
Krauss had a message for parents: “It’s better to have your son or daughter mad at you for being overprotective than risking the dangers sexual predators pose to our kids.”
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