Abilene Man Convicted at Trial for Enticing Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

An Abilene man was convicted at trial for attempted enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.

On Monday, a federal jury deliberated for just seven minutes before finding Carlito Santiago Santos, 47, guilty of attempted enticement of a minor. Mr. Santos was indicted in October 2019.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Abilene Police Department created an undercover online persona of “Tyler,” a 15-year-old boy, and placed his profile on Grindr, a social media dating platform for GBTQ men.

Mr. Santos sent multiple illicit message to Tyler. In reply, Tyler told Mr. Santos that he was 15 years old and sent an age-regressed photo of a 15-year-old boy. Mr. Santos agreed to meet Tyler at an apartment complex in Abilene to engage in sexual activity. When Mr. Santos arrived he was arrested by law enforcement.

During interviews conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Mr. Santos, a native of the Philippines where he worked as a pediatrician, admitted that he had a sexual interest in children because he found them “energetic” and “innocent.” Mr. Santos said he frequently viewed child pornography and ultimately admitted to molesting approximately fifteen children while in the Philippines.

The defendant faces a potential sentence of up to life in federal prison. His sentencing date is set for September 15, 2020.

The investigation was led by Abilene Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Juanita Fielden and Jeffrey Haag are prosecuting the case.