Man Accused of Flying to San Diego for Sex with Minors

By David Hernandez
San Diego Union-Tribune
January 29, 2016

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/jan/29/man-accused-of-flying-to-san-diego-for-sex-with/

An Ohio seminary student accused of traveling to San Diego to have sex with infants in Mexico was arrested after his plane landed at the San Diego airport Friday, authorities said.

Joel Wright, 23, was taken into federal custody and charged with two felony counts, including traveling with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor and attempting to engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country within the Southern District of California, according to the criminal complaint.

After receiving a tip, a Homeland Security Investigations undercover agent took over an email account and began a conversation with Wright, who believed he was communicating with a Mexico-based tour guide he met after placing an online ad.

Wright, who lives in Columbus, Ohio, allegedly wrote that he wanted to travel to Tijuana to adopt or own a child under 3 years old and have sex with the infant, according to the criminal complaint.

Wright booked a flight to San Diego and planned to meet a friend of the tour guide at the San Diego airport. Investigators allege the plan was for Wright and the tour guide to travel to Tijuana and go to a hotel, where Wright would be brought female infants.

His arrest follows a monthslong child sexual exploitation undercover investigation by Homeland Security agents in San Diego, authorities said.

“This investigation opens a window into a secret world where sexual predators prey on young children around the globe,” said Dave Shaw, a special agent in charge of San Diego’s Homeland Security Investigations, in a statement. “Pedophiles who mistakenly believe they can escape justice by committing child sex crimes outside of the U.S. should be on notice that HSI will seek to vindicate the rights of those victims regardless of where they live.”

Wright is expected to be arraigned in federal court Monday.