In a shocking and disturbing case, a New Jersey man used Uber to bring a young Indiana girl across state lines for illicit purposes. Arnold Castillo, a 22-year-old from Paterson, NJ, now faces serious federal charges, including transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern Indiana, Castillo began communicating with an underage girl from central Indiana in February 2022 via a social media app. He sent her gifts, money, and compliments, employing “grooming” tactics commonly used by sex offenders to gain a minor’s trust and isolate them from their family and support system.
On May 3, Castillo paid for an Uber driver to pick up the girl and bring her to him across state lines. The girl was missing for over a week before investigators used data from the social media app to trace her to an address in Paterson on May 11. She was found safe at Castillo’s residence and reunited with her mother.
In addition to federal charges, Castillo is also facing state charges in New Jersey. He appeared before a federal judge in New Jersey on May 12 and was extradited to Indiana to face charges. During his initial appearance in Indianapolis on Friday, he was ordered to remain in the custody of the United States Marshal pending trial.
Castillo could face life in prison for each of the two charges if convicted. This chilling case is a sobering reminder of the potential dangers lurking online and the importance of staying vigilant to protect young people from exploitation.
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