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Indiana man accused of traveling to Wisconsin to have sex with minor

Posted at 11:55 AM, Jul 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-08 12:55:53-04

OSHKOSH (NBC 26) -- Federal authorities have announced another arrest in their operation known as Operation Kick Boxer, a crackdown on child sexual abuse.

The latest person arrested in the crackdown is 47-year-old Ronald Ortega, a man from Dyer, Indiana.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Ortega was charged via a criminal complaint following his arrest Monday.

The news release states Ortega began exchanging instant messages with “Lisa,” whom he believed to be the mother of a 15-year-old girl living in Oshkosh. Ortega is accused of expressing interest in engaging in sexual activity with the 15-year-old. “Lisa” was, in fact, a law enforcement agent working as a part of Operation Kick Boxer.

Authorities say Ortega was arrested after leaving the hotel room he allegedly booked for meeting the minor.

Ortega faces charges of using a computer to attempt to persuade, induce, or entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to a lifetime of imprisonment if convicted. He was ordered detained pending trial.