Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents arrested Israel Arroyo Chiqués, 63, in Caguas on Wednesday on federal charges related to child sexual exploitation. He is the brother of former Aguas Buenas mayor Luis Arroyo Chiqués, according to Lymarie Llovet, press officer for the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Puerto Rico. The federal indictment, cited by interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, alleges that between December 2025 and April 2026, Arroyo Chiqués used a cell phone, internet messaging services and social media to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a minor under 14 into sexual activity.
It also alleges that between January and March 2026 he received and distributed images showing minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct via messaging apps on his cell phone and other devices. The case was presented to a federal grand jury on July 1, though the arrest occurred this Wednesday. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Assistant U.S.
Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora, of the Unit for Crimes Against Minors, Human Trafficking and Immigration, is handling the case. Separately, in November 2021, Israel and Luis Arroyo Chiqués were stopped by police in Mayagüez for an alleged traffic violation, during which marijuana and rolling papers were found; both were released on $1,000 bail each through a private bondsman.