Two men accused of abusing a minor in a cruise ship sauna have been arrested in Miami

Two men were arrested last Friday at the port of Miami after being accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old minor in the sauna of the cruise ship Independence of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean.

The detainees, both Mexican citizens identified as José Juan Prudencio Díaz, 36 years old, and Ricardo Daniel Mondragón Leal, 37, face multiple charges, including lewd sexual conduct, indecent exposure, and inappropriate touching of a minor between the ages of 12 and 16. Both remain in custody without bail and under immigration detention, as reported by local media.

According to the report from Telemundo 51, the minor told authorities that he was in the cruise sauna when the accused began masturbating in front of him, touched him, and forced him to touch them. Subsequently, Mondragón Leal forced him to perform oral sex and also sexually abused him.

According to reported by Local10, both men resided at the same address in Mexico City. Díaz also faces an additional charge for engaging in sexual relations without informing the victim of his HIV-positive status. He is currently incarcerated at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, while Mondragón Leal is being held at the Metrowest Detention Center, facing additional charges of child sexual assault.

During the court hearing held on Saturday, a prosecutor indicated that both acted together and "attempted to target a specific minor," which poses a risk of reoffending. The seriousness of the facts led the judge to deny them bail.

In recent months, several cases of child abuse and sexual offenses have been reported in the United States, particularly in South Florida, involving several individuals of Cuban descent. At the end of February, a couple from Miami was arrested after being accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl whom they met at church. According to the report, the abuses occurred on multiple occasions when the minor visited their home.

That same month, in Texas, a Cuban couple was arrested for sexually assaulting their one-year-old daughter and recording the abuse on video. The material was detected through an alert generated on TikTok, which allowed for a joint investigation by several federal agencies. Both are currently in the custody of immigration authorities.

A few days later, a 51-year-old man was charged with exhibitionism and lewd conduct against his granddaughters aged 5 and 7 in Miami. The allegations arose after the family moved, and the children reported what had happened. The accused was placed in custody by immigration services.

At the beginning of this month of March, a Cuban massage therapist was arrested on charges of inappropriately touching a 17-year-old during a session at a hotel in Doral. The woman denied the allegations and was released on bail, but she is facing charges of sexual abuse.

A few days later, a 29-year-old father was arrested in Miami after being accused of torturing his four-year-old son. The child showed physical signs consistent with restraints and described the assault using a doll during an interview with authorities. The case sparked widespread outrage due to the harshness of the child's testimony.

Later, another man was arrested in Miami accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old teenager. According to the investigation, he offered to give the victim a ride in his vehicle and drove him to his home, where the assault occurred. The victim was able to provide information that aided in the man's identification and arrest.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Cruise Abuse Case in Miami