U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

San Juan, Puerto Rico

October 10, 2006

Request for the Public’s Assistance Regarding Sexual Offender

Pursuant to a federal indictment, on October 5, 2006, law enforcement officers arrested Amilcar Matias-Torres, age 51, at his residence in Ponce, Puerto Rico. This indictment alleges Matias-Torres attempted to Persuade, Induce, Entice, and Coerce a minor under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) today requests the public’s assistance of any minors under the age of eighteen years old or the parents of any minors who believe that their children may have had contact with Amilcar Matias-Torres, also known as (aka): "Anthony", "Papote", "Angel Luis", and "Christian". It is believed Matias-Torres would send video text messages to his potential victims, as well as contact them telephonically.

Matias-Torres is alleged to have used the following cellular telephone numbers to contact his potential victims:

(787) 677-8828, (787) 382-9210, and (787) 202-6873 . It is further believed, Matias-Torres would send text messages to a local TV video channel. 

This channel plays Music videos 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and on the bottom of the screen is a scrolling ticker that displays the text messages that viewers would send via the cellular telephone text messaging feature. This is known as the TV Chat system.  For example, a viewer would compose their message and then send it to the local television’s number. The message would then be posted on the television channel allowing other viewers to either contact the sender directly or respond via the TV Chat system.

     Matias-Torres  would typically send messages to a local TV video channel late at night and request photographs. Other times he would simply call the females who posted their telephone numbers on the TV Chat system. 

  Any minors or the parents of a minor who believe that their children may have had contact with Amilcar Matias-Torres, as well as anyone with information should contact the San Juan FBI, 24 hours a day at (787) 754-6000.

This case is being investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Puerto Rico Special Investigations Bureau (NIE, initials in Spanish), the Puerto Rico Department of Justice-Interpol Division, and the Police of Puerto Rico (POPR).

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of any guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Attached are photographs of Amilcar Matias-Torres.

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