A federal jury in Puerto Rico has convicted former boxing coach Willie Torres-Gerena of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, concluding a four-day trial in a case involving a 16-year-old girl who had regarded him as a trusted father figure.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico announced the verdict on September 8. Jurors returned it on September 3 before Senior U.S. District Judge Francisco A. Besosa. Torres-Gerena, 60, of Arecibo, was arrested by FBI agents on January 25, 2024.
What the jury decided
Trial evidence and witness testimony established that Torres-Gerena invited the teenager to lunch, drove her to a motel and attempted to rape her, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors said he had been her boxing coach and occupied a position of unusual trust in her life.
The conviction is for transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity under federal law. Unlike an indictment or arrest, the verdict is a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The child is not identified here.
Sentence and investigation
Torres-Gerena faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. Sentencing is set for December 2, 2026, at 9 a.m. He remains detained pending that hearing.
The FBI investigated with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daynelle Álvarez-Lora and Fabiola Rivera-Laboy prosecuted the case. Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez Carbó characterized the prosecution as a sensitive case requiring care for the victim and said the verdict demonstrates that people who exploit minors will face accountability.
Why the case matters
The case centers on abuse of an adult’s position of trust and on federal authority to prosecute the transportation of a person under 18 for criminal sexual activity. It also shows why youth sports organizations and caregivers must treat boundary violations and grooming concerns as child-safety issues rather than private disputes.
The public record cited by prosecutors does not yet include the defense’s sentencing position or any planned post-trial motions. Those issues, along with the final prison term, remain unresolved until the December hearing and any later appeal.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, September 8, 2026.
