An Austin man was sentenced in a federal court Wednesday to 84 months in prison for engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.
According to court documents, Michael Wayne Roberts, 41, was living in Medellin, Colombia when he paid money for sex with three Colombian girls on multiple occasions between December 2020 and June 2021. Their ages ranged between the ages of 13 and 15. Roberts was arrested on September 15, 2022 and has remained in federal custody.
He pleaded guilty in February to all three counts in his indictment.
In addition to the prison sentence and ten years of supervised release, the U.S. district judge ordered Roberts to pay $147,844.51 in restitution to the victims. Roberts must also register as a sex offender.
“This sentencing reflects that those who engage in sexual conduct with minors, regardless of where it occurs, will be held accountable for their heinous, predatory crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “I am grateful for the diligent work of the Colombian National Police and our federal partners at Homeland Security Investigations, leading to the arrest and prosecution of this individual. Their commitment to justice has made our communities safer and protected our most vulnerable population—our children.”
“Protecting the children in our communities remains a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Alejandro M. Amaro for HSI San Antonio. “This sentence is a testament that HSI remains committed to identifying individuals who prey on our most vulnerable population, especially those individuals that hold positions of public trust.”
