0 By. GETTY
ST. THOMAS — U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced that a St. Thomas man, Alfredo Bruce Smith, 50, was arrested Wednesday on a criminal complaint related to his alleged molestation of multiple minors and production of child pornography.
According to court documents, Smith works as a track and field coach and as a school monitor at Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS). Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) began an investigation into Smith’s alleged activities after receiving reports that Smith inappropriately touched a minor during a school-sponsored track and field trip in March 2021, and that there were photographs of juvenile males who attended CAHS in the Defendant’s cellular phone. One witness reported that over six young males confided that they had been molested or raped by the Defendant.
A search of Smith’s social media account revealed dozens of photographs and sex videos of minor males and their genitals. A federal search warrant was executed on August 31, 2021, at the Defendant’s residence. According to court documents, a video depicting a sex act was located on a camcorder belonging to CAHS, which was located in the Defendant’s bedroom. The sex act appears to take place within the school.
Smith is charged with a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251, sexual exploitation of children. If convicted, Smith faces a penalty of 15 to 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Baker is prosecuting the case.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-800-981-3030, or by calling 787-729-6969.
