MIAMI — A 42-year-old Miami man has been sentenced to life in federal prison after admitting he traveled to Colombia to engage in sex acts with children, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Federal prosecutors said Stefan Andres Correa was detained at Miami International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Bogotá. During a border search, authorities discovered nine mobile phones containing more than 100 videos showing Correa sexually abusing at least 50 children, ranging in age from 11 to 17.
One phone also contained messages with a known sex trafficker in Colombia. In the exchange, Correa allegedly agreed to pay the equivalent of $75 for access to children as young as 10.
“This sentence sends a clear message: predators who seek to exploit children abroad will be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne. “Correa’s crimes are heinous, and a life sentence is more than justified.”
Jose R. Figueroa, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Miami, called the case a stark reminder of the “global and horrific nature of child sex trafficking,” and praised the courage of the victims and the cooperation of international authorities.
The investigation involved multiple HSI field offices in the U.S. and Colombia, along with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Justice’s Bogotá attaché office.
The case was prosecuted by Major Crimes Deputy Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Astigarraga and brought under Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse.
To report online child exploitation visit https://report.cybertip.org/ or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in partnership with HSI and other law enforcement agencies.
