A man from Guatemala residing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor using the internet. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell and delivered by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on January 27, 2025.
Jorge Manuel Rodriguez-Marroquin, aged 48, received the mandatory minimum sentence and will be subject to five years of supervised release following his prison term. He is also required to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and must register as a sex offender upon his release.
The charges against Rodriguez-Marroquin were brought following an indictment by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He pleaded guilty on November 12, 2024.
The case arose from an incident on March 9, 2024, when Rodriguez-Marroquin used Facebook to communicate with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. During the conversation, he discussed sexual topics and attempted to arrange a meeting for sexual activity. However, the supposed minor was actually an undercover law enforcement agent. Rodriguez-Marroquin was arrested when he arrived at the meeting location.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program involves federal, state, and local resources aimed at prosecuting offenders and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb.
Following his sentencing, Rodriguez-Marroquin was placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.