Haven Edwardantione Cates III, a businessman from the United States, was arrested in Chicago on charges of sexually abusing at least three minors in Medellín and Bogotá, Colombia, and compelling them to tattoo his name on their bodies as a form of payment. Cates III reportedly frequented Medellin and Bogota since April 15, 2018, with a record of 36 immigration movements.
During his visits in Medellin and Bogota, he allegedly targeted underage girls, offering them money in exchange for sexual acts. The girls, between 15 and 17 years old, were asked to fulfill some of his sexual fantasies, and after the act, he would demand they tattoo his name on their bodies as a brand. If the girls refused, they would lose the $100 to $200 he paid them for their compliance. An additional $50 to $100 was given for the tattooing process. To ensure the task was accomplished, he would ask for a full-body photograph with the tattoo.
The arrest was a result of joint efforts by the Chicago federal agents, Colombia’s Directorate of Protection and Special Services (Dipro), the United States’ Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the NGO Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), which provides protection to underage victims of such crimes.
Court hearings are expected to take place this week in a US federal court to determine whether Cates III will be detained or released on bail, with the latter unlikely due to the nature of the crimes. Dipro has recorded 5,455 sexual crimes against children and adolescents in Colombia this year by both foreigners and nationals, with 279 cybercrime alerts related to this population. Dipro and OUR urge victims of sexual violations by Americans to reach out via Dipro’s communication channels or through a note on the ourrescue.org website.