Courtesy of Instagram
Cabrera allegedly used Instagram to chat with the victim.
By Forum Staff
A Bayside man has been charged with using Instagram to chat up a 13-year-old girl and offer her $1,000 to have sex with him, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said on Thursday. The man allegedly used the popular social media platform to engage in video and text conversations with the underage girl and even extended an offer for the teen and her friend to watch him pleasure himself for cash.
Juan Cabrera, 21, was arraigned on Thursday on a criminal complaint charging him with attempted use of a child in a sexual performance, first-degree patronizing a prostitute, first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors, and endangering the welfare of a child. Bail was set at $7,500 cash/$5,000 bond.
Cabrera posted bail and was released on Friday. He was ordered to return to court on Feb. 7.
According to the charges, the 12-year-old female victim chatted with Cabrera on Instagram on or about Sept. 28 when Cabrera offered her $200 to watch him masturbate. Cabrera allegedly increased his offer by promising her $1,000 for sexual intercourse and told the youngster that he could place the money in her friend’s family mailbox.
According to the complaint, the teenage girl asked Cabrera how he knew her friend and he responded that he knew where the other girl lived and that he had seen her in his neighborhood with her mother. Continuing the Instagram chat, Cabrera asked the victim if she wanted to watch him masturbate alone or with her friend, who was 13 years old at that time.
According to charging documents, law enforcement investigating the case connected Cabrera to the Instagram account through his cell phone provider’s records; and prior to his arrest, Cabrera allegedly said that the phone was his and the Instagram account was also his.
“The internet and the many apps offered on cell phones can be entertaining and educational; however, they can also be portals for those on the hunt for young victims,” Brown added. “The defendant in this case is accused of soliciting a teenage girl for his sexual gratification. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in Queens County. The defendant now faces prison time.”
The investigation is ongoing and the police are asking anyone who has communicated with the username “DAILYANTIX”—Cabrera’s alleged Instagram handle—to call City Police Det. Phil Adaszewski at (646) 872-7609.
If convicted, Cabrera faces up to seven years in prison.
