Honduran Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Violating the Travel Act

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - A Honduran national, Wilson Garcia Hernandez, 29, who overstayed his visa and has lived illegally in the United States since October 2024, pled guilty today to violating the Travel Act.

The Travel Act prohibits, among other things, using facilities in interstate commerce, such as cellphones and computers, to carry on unlawful activities, including prostitution.

According to court documents, in April 2026, an agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), acting in an undercover capacity began exchanging emails with Hernandez, after the defendant responded to an advertisement for commercial sex dates. The undercover officer was posing as a "female escort" online.

As the two began messaging each other, the undercover officer quickly told Hernandez that she was in fact 16 years old. Hernadez acknowledged her age and indicated that was not a problem for him and continued messaging with her.

Eventually, Hernandez arranged to meet the undercover officer, whom he believed was a 16-year-old girl, at a public park in the Harrisonburg, Virginia area and to pay $170 to have sex with for one-hour.

When Hernandez arrived, officers arrested him and found he was in possession of approximately $200 in cash and a condom.

First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. made the announcement today.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Sullivan is prosecuting the case.