Guatemalan Man Indicted for Traveling to New Jersey to Kidnap Minor

CAMDEN, N.J. - A Guatemalan man was indicted by a federal grand jury for traveling to Cape May County, New Jersey, to kidnap a minor, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Sergio Gomez, aka "Abner Abigail Chub-Choc," 22, of Guatemala, made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Skahill in Camden federal court and was detained. Gomez was indicted on July 17, 2024, on one count each of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and kidnapping.

According to the indictment:

Gomez used the internet and cellphone to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. On July 30, 2023, Gomez arrived in Cape May County, New Jersey, and took the minor to Georgia with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the minor. The FBI recovered the minor in Georgia on Aug. 3, 2023.

The count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; the count of transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and the count of kidnapping carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. All of the counts also carry a maximum fine of $250,000 per count.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, in Newark. He also thanked the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office and Middle Township Police Department.

The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn R. Waegener of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Camden.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.