JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former detective from Florida has been sentenced to nearly 25 years in federal prison for his involvement in the sexual exploitation of a teenage girl. Josue Garriga, aged 35, from St. Augustine, received his sentence from a federal judge in Jacksonville on Monday. He had previously entered a guilty plea in July to charges of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Tim Hemker, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigation in Jacksonville, expressed concern over Garriga’s breach of trust, stating, “This individual violated his position of trust in the community and sought to take advantage of a child for his own satisfaction,” in a recent statement.
Garriga is also part of a group of three officers from Jacksonville who are facing a federal lawsuit connected to the severe beating of Le’Keian Woods last year, an incident that occurred when Woods fled from law enforcement during a traffic stop. The lawsuit claims the officers employed excessive force, leading to lasting injuries for Woods, including damage to his head, eye, and kidney. Sheriff T.K. Waters, who is also a Black man, has publicly defended the officers’ actions as warranted.
Prosecutors have revealed that Garriga was serving as a detective in the gang unit of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in 2023 when he met the 17-year-old girl at a church event. He initially reached out to her via his department-issued cellphone and subsequently switched to his personal phone, choosing to communicate through an encrypted app that deleted messages within 24 hours. It was reported that Garriga solicited explicit photos from the girl and, in return, sent her nude images of himself.
On several occasions, Garriga allegedly used his work vehicle to visit the girl’s neighborhood for illicit encounters. In one instance, he lured her into his official car and prevented her from leaving until she engaged in sexual activity with him. The troubling relationship came to an end in March when the girl’s mother discovered disturbing messages between her daughter and Garriga. Upon reporting this to the authorities, Garriga was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 24 years and four months in prison.