Ernesto Martín, a 29-year-old Cuban activist residing in Hialeah and known on social media as “El Indeseable Maceíto”, broke his silence following his arrest on July 2 in Miami, resulting from an undercover police operation related to the alleged solicitation of prostitution services.
In an exclusive interview granted to Telemundo 51, Martín took responsibility for his actions, although he insisted that it was strictly a private matter.
On that same day, he released an official statement on his Instagram account in which he promised to face the legal consequences head-on, without evasion.
How did the arrest happen?
According to the police report, Martín responded to an advertisement on a website linked to escort services, verbally agreed to a service, and went to an address previously chosen by the investigators.
Upon arrival, he encountered the undercover agent "Peña," identified in the police document by the number 9689.
Martín handed over 60 dollars as payment and was arrested immediately.
The report indicates that there was no physical contact before the arrest; the accusation is based on the verbal request and the delivery of the money.
The charge registered is soliciting another person to engage in prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida.
What Martín said on Telemundo 51
In the interview, Martín acknowledged the mistake but defended that his private life is no one else's concern.
“My shame is reserved for my family and my loved ones. The truth is, I do not believe I have wronged anyone; it was something mutually agreed upon. Of course, it is a mistake and I am totally embarrassed,” he declared.
When asked about the details of the police report, he preferred not to discuss the matter
"No, I prefer not to make any comments. This is a legal process that is currently being clarified, and I will refer to the advice of my lawyer."
Regarding what was learned, he reflected:
"First of all, self-control, not letting oneself be carried away by emotions, and understanding that what is normal does not mean it is legal. But of course, it's something that could have somehow been prevented if I had made better decisions myself."
Martín also requested that political figures he has collaborated with not be dragged into this
"I am a completely independent person. There is no reason to involve Mayor Bryan, as this is a personal decision of mine. It is a decision that I make and for which I take responsibility, and I am prepared to face the consequences. I have nothing to hide."
The statement on Instagram
Alongside the television interview, Martín published a formal statement on Tuesday on his Instagram account - where he has over 70,000 followers - with the heading "Official Statement" against a backdrop of the American flag.
In the text, it was straightforward
"What I do in my private life is personal and my own issue. However, I will not evade my responsibility. I will accept the consequences as dictated by the law with the same firmness I have always faced at every stage of my life. I have never believed in cheap excuses or victimized attitudes regarding decisions made."
He closed the statement with a phrase that encapsulates his tone: “To the detractors who do not build, silence. I continue with my machete drawn and my pants firmly on.”
Profile of the accused and legal context
Martín is known in the Cuban community of Miami as a political strategist for the firm Warchief Strategies and an anti-communist activist with ties to local campaigns in Hialeah, including Mayor Bryan Calvo, a figure that Martín himself sought to distance from the case.
The type of operation in which she was arrested is a common practice among the police agencies in Miami-Dade: undercover agents who post ads on adult websites and document the agreements before proceeding with the arrests.
In Florida, a first-time solicitation for prostitution can result in up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, 100 hours of community service, and mandatory classes on human trafficking.
Martín faces an accusation, not a conviction, and the case is proceeding through the courts.
Filed under: