Couple extradited to Puerto Rico on federal sextortion charges
Patricia Joanna Almonte Frías and Rineldys Feliciano Díaz Cuevas face conspiracy charges after allegedly using intimate images obtained online to extort victims in Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic.
The short version
- El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora reported that the couple was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Aug. 19 at the request of U.S. authorities and extradited to Puerto Rico on Sept. 30
- The federal prosecutor's office said Almonte Frías allegedly used her image on social media to persuade victims to share explicit material which was secretly recorded
- Prosecutors stated that others then demanded money threatening to distribute the images to family and friends and in some cases created fake photos implying sexual activity with minors
- According to the U.S. Attorney's Office victims paid the demanded sums but the images were still distributed and the pair made their first court appearance on Oct. 1
Extradition and charges
A couple extradited from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico faces federal charges for their alleged role in an international sextortion scheme that targeted victims in Puerto Rico. El Nuevo Día reported that Patricia Joanna Almonte Frías and Rineldys Feliciano Díaz Cuevas were arrested on Aug. 19, 2026, at the request of federal authorities and arrived in Puerto Rico on Sept. 30. They made their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López on Oct. 1.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico stated that the pair is charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and interstate threats in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. If convicted they face a maximum of five years in prison. The office said a judge will determine any sentence after considering the federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Primera Hora reported similar details on the timeline and charges.
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Estos acusados ejecutaron un esquema calculado que se aprovechaba de la confianza, el miedo y la vulnerabilidad de las personas, dejando a su paso consecuencias duraderas.
Our translation: These defendants executed a calculated scheme that took advantage of the trust, fear and vulnerability of people, leaving lasting consequences in its wake.
The source's own statement, as quoted by U.S. Attorney's Office. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Alleged scheme
According to the federal prosecutor's office the defendants allegedly operated the scheme from the Dominican Republic using platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp to identify and contact victims in Puerto Rico. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Almonte Frías used her own image to persuade victims to send explicit photographs and videos which were recorded without their knowledge. It added that other alleged accomplices then demanded money under threat of distributing the material to the victims' family members and friends.
The office stated that in some instances the pair created photo montages combining victims' explicit images with photographs of minors to falsely suggest sexual activity with underage individuals. Prosecutors said victims paid the demanded amounts and in some cases emptied their bank accounts yet the defendants allegedly carried out the threats and distributed the images online anyway. Both outlets attributed these details to the same federal news release.
Where the sources differ
El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora agree on all core facts including the defendants' names, arrest date of Aug. 19 2026, extradition on Sept. 30, first court appearance on Oct. 1 before Magistrate López, the use of social media, the method of obtaining and using intimate images, the creation of montages involving minors, victim payments, continued distribution of images, the single conspiracy charge and the five-year maximum sentence. The articles differ only in minor wording of quotes from Ramírez Carbó and in which FBI official's comments they highlight, but the substance is identical as both draw from the same U.S. Attorney's Office press release.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not disclose how many victims were involved, the total amounts of money demanded or paid, whether any images involving minors were distributed, the identities or number of any additional accomplices, or what specific sentences prosecutors will seek. They also do not state whether the defendants have entered pleas or when a trial date might be set.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Extraditan a Puerto Rico a pareja acusada de extorsionar con fotos íntimas por internet
- Reporting Extraditan a Puerto Rico a pareja acusada de extorsionar con fotos íntimas por internet
- Reporting Pareja presuntamente usaba fotos íntimas para extorsionar a víctimas en Puerto Rico
How we checked this
Both El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora based their coverage on the same federal prosecutor's office release. Details of the alleged scheme, the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals, the FBI's Santo Domingo attaché and Dominican law enforcement, and the assignment of Assistant U.S. Attorney Julián Radzinschi rest on that single official account.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.