South Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact with Home Confinement Inmate

MIAMI – Benito Montes de Oca Cruz, 60, of Miami-Dade County, has pled guilty to abusive sexual contact with a woman serving part of her 51-month prison sentence in home confinement under his authority.

Cruz, a site supervisor employed by Riverside House, conducted home visits to monitor compliance of federal inmates on home confinement. Riverside House, pursuant to a contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, is responsible for providing custodial, supervisory, and disciplinary oversight to federal inmates on home confinement.

As admitted at the change of plea, on December 28, 2020, Cruz conducted a home confinement supervision visit to the victim’s residence. While there, he engaged in sexual contact with and by the victim, including sexually explicit touching of the victim while they both were naked.

Law enforcement received information regarding this illicit activity and promptly interviewed the victim. Facts also showed that this illegal activity was captured on video and there was DNA evidence left behind by Cruz that conclusively established his involvement.

Cruz is scheduled for sentencing on April 14, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola. He faces a possible maximum sentence of two years in prison.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe and Special Agent in Charge James Boyersmith of the Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), made the announcement.

DOJ-OIG investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm is prosecuting it.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-20459.

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