A Fort Drum soldier has been arrested after he tried to engage in sexual activity with a minor, according to federal court documents.
Sgt. Rodlando Cruz Guzman, who’s stationed at the New York Army post, was on temporary duty assignment at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in Texas for the Army’s Advanced Leadership Course when he started chatting online with an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl named “Bri.”
The agent, with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, posted a message on the Whisper app that said, “I wish there was one person to show me not all military guys are the same.”
Guzman responded to the message on Oct. 10, according to court documents. They chatted back and forth on Whisper, where “Bri” said she was 14 and Guzman said he was a 26-year-old sergeant in the Army.
He then gave “Bri” his username on KIK, another messaging app, where the topics turned sexual, according to court documents.
Guzman told “Bri” he wanted to teach her about sex and perform sexual acts with her, according to court documents. He also sent pictures that showed his face and the military lodging where he was staying at Joint Base San Antonio for the leadership course.
On Oct. 11, Guzman sent “Bri” three photos: one of his exposed genitals, one with his shirt off, and one in uniform, according to court documents. Guzman‘s face is visible in two of the photos, according to court documents.
Two days later, Guzman said he wanted to meet at “Bri’s” home on Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Air Force Base to “do our dirty stuff,” according to the documents from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. They agreed to meet the next day.
On Oct. 14, Guzman traveled to the agreed-upon meeting location and was detained by AFOSI agents. He stated that he had intended to engage in sexual activity with the person he thought was a 14-year-old girl, and he said he bought a new package of condoms for the occasion, according to court documents.
According to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, which is leading the case, Guzman is currently at the Central Texas Detention Facility with a hearing scheduled for Friday.
He faces charges of attempted enticement of a minor and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. The punishments are 10 years to life in prison with a $250,000 fine, and a maximum of 10 years in prison with a $250,000 fine, respectively.
