Imprisonment of Eddie Núñez
Eddie Manuel Núñez Santos, born in 1990, is a Peruvian computer engineer who found himself at the center of an international controversy in 2023. On September 26 of that year, Santos was apprehended by the National Police of Peru following accusations from the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).[1] The charges against him were severe: he was alleged to have made over 150 hoax bomb threats targeting schools, synagogues,[2] and public buildings across the United States. Additionally, he was accused of extorting minors for explicit images.[3][4][5]
Santos' arrest marked the beginning of a 40-day stay in a Peruvian prison as he awaited extradition to the United States.[1] However, on November 9, 2023, the U.S. Justice Department dropped all charges against him. Despite his release, Santos received neither an apology nor an explanation for the error that had led to his detention.[6]
The aftermath of the Santos case also led to criticism of the National Police of Peru.[7] The law enforcement agency was reproached for its compliance with U.S. orders without independent verification, and for its practice of publicizing the apprehension of criminals on social media and television. This criticism was particularly pointed given that Santos was ultimately found to be innocent of the charges leveled against him.[8]
Background[edit]
In the latter half of September, a series of threats were issued across multiple states in the United States, including New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Arizona, and Alaska. These threats led to a series of school evacuations, a hospital lockdown, and flight delays.[3] The majority of these threats were directed at educational institutions. In Pennsylvania alone, over 1,100 students across various school districts were evacuated in response to a single threat.[9]
Eddie Manuel Nunez Santos was subsequently charged with several federal crimes. These included transmitting threatening interstate communications, conveying false information and hoaxes, attempting to sexually exploit a child, attempting to coerce and entice a minor, and attempting to receive child pornography.[1] If convicted, he faced a potential life sentence.[3]
Arrest and detention[edit]
Policía Nacional del Perú via Twitter @PoliciaPeru En #SMP, efectivos de la Interpol #Lima detuvieron a un sujeto que se encontraba requerido por las autoridades juridiciales de Nueva York #EstadosUnidos, por el delito de amenaza por comunicación interestatal, tentativa de explotación sexual de menor, entre otros delitos.
27 Sep 2023[10]
Núñez Santos, a resident of Lima, was apprehended at his domicile by the National Police of Peru.[4] The police informed him of serious allegations leveled against him, including extortion of minors in the United States and involvement in child pornography. The gravity of these charges had prompted U.S. authorities to activate an Interpol red notice.[4]
Santos and his partner were taken aback by these accusations, viewing them as a grave error. Despite their shock, Santos cooperated with the police and willingly left his home with them. He was subsequently transported to a local police station, where he was subjected to an interrogation conducted by FBI agents via video call.
During the interrogation, Santos denied any participation in the alleged crimes. He asserted that he had never set foot in the United States, nor had he ever established contact with anyone residing there. Santos, who identified himself as a freelance web developer, maintained that he had no motive to engage in bomb threats or extortion activities.[8]
Following the interrogation, Santos was relocated to a prison facility in Lima.[4] He spent over a month in a cell shared with 15 other inmates. Santos reported experiencing both physical and psychological abuse during his incarceration, allegedly perpetrated by the National Police of Peru. He claimed that the police publicly labeled him as a 'pedophile' and a 'criminal' on social media platforms and television broadcasts.[7]
Santos also expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of legal support provided by the Peruvian authorities. He alleged that he was denied the opportunity to communicate with his family or seek legal counsel. This lack of assistance, coupled with the fear of potential extradition to the U.S. and the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence.[8]
Release and aftermath[edit]
However, on November 9, 2023, Nunez Santos was released from prison. This followed an official communication from the U.S. Embassy in Peru, stating that the charges against him had been withdrawn. The U.S. Justice Department did not provide any specific details regarding the reasons for the dismissal of the case. Reports indicated that the FBI had discovered new evidence that exonerated Nunez Santos.[7]
Following his release, Nunez Santos received no apology or explanation from either the U.S. or Peruvian authorities for the error. He reported facing ongoing stigma and discrimination from individuals who still believed in his guilt. His name and image remained associated with the crimes on the internet.[4][5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Peruvian National Arrested In Peru For Sending Over 150 Hoax Bomb Threats To Schools And Other Institutions In The United States And Soliciting Child Pornography". justice.gov. United States Department of Justice. 2023-09-28. Archived from the original on 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2024-01-13. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Lapin, Andrew (2023-10-05). "Synagogue bomb threats continue despite arrest of a suspect". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lee, Ella (2023-09-28). "Peruvian national charged with making more than 150 bomb threats to US schools, institutions". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Chasan, Aliza (2023-09-28). "Peruvian man arrested for allegedly sending bomb threats when minors refused to send him child pornography". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Man to face charges over hoax bomb threats to Arizona, other US locations". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ↑ "US drops charges against Peruvian man accused of hoax bomb threats". BBC News. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "La pesadilla del peruano que pasó semanas en la cárcel después de que EE.UU. lo acusara por error de pedofilia". El Comercio (in español). BBC News. 2024-01-08. ISSN 1605-3052. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "¡Era inocente! Peruano estuvo en prisión tras ser acusado de pedofilia por error". Perú.21 (in español). 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ↑ Oladipo, Gloria (2023-09-28). "Peruvian man arrested for making more than 150 bomb threats to US schools". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ↑ Policía Nacional del Perú [@PoliciaPeru] (27 Sep 2023). "En #SMP, efectivos de la Interpol #Lima detuvieron a un sujeto que se encontraba requerido por las autoridades juridiciales de Nueva York #EstadosUnidos, por el delito de amenaza por comunicación interestatal, tentativa de explotación sexual de menor, entre otros delitos" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
External links[edit]
- United States of America v. Eddie Manuel Nunez Santos , sealed complaint filed by the FBI in the Southern District of New York.
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