Bronx Man Charged With Committing Sex Trafficking, Coercion, And Enticement Crimes Involving Three Minor Victims

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the filing of an Indictment charging JIMMY ROSARIO with coercion and enticement of a 16-year-old victim ("Minor Victim-1"), coercion and enticement of a 12-year-old victim ("Minor Victim-2"), and sex trafficking of a 17-year-old victim ("Minor Victim-3"). ROSARIO is detained and the case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.

"This Office is dedicated to protecting our children and ridding our streets of sexual predators," said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. "As alleged, Jimmy Rosario preyed on multiple minor victims using online social messaging platforms. After meeting his victims online, Rosario allegedly lured these minors to meet in person by offering them alcohol, drugs, food, and cash, then engaged in unlawful sexual activity with them."

"Jimmy Rosario allegedly preyed on vulnerable minors through sex trafficking and coercion, a series of acts that are completely indefensible," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. "The FBI/NYPD Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force work relentlessly to ensure individuals like Rosario are removed from our communities and are held accountable for their heinous crimes."

According to the Indictment and other public filings, from at least July 2025 through June 2026, ROSARIO utilized his cellphone and the Internet, including social messaging platforms, to connect and communicate with minors, including Minor Victim-1, Minor Victim-2, and Minor Victim-3. ROSARIO used his cellphone and the Internet to arrange for in-person meet ups where he engaged in oral, vaginal, and anal sex with the minor victims. Specifically, ROSARIO enticed Minor Victim-1 and Minor Victim-2 to engage in unlawful sexual activity and solicited Minor Victim-3 to engage in sexual acts in exchange for money and other forms of payment.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

If you have been victimized by ROSARIO in any way or have any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

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ROSARIO, 42, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, each of which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The statutory minimum and maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. McDonald thanked the FBI/New York City Police Department Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force for its outstanding work in connection with this investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Cohen is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Olivia Sebade.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.