PALM COAST, Fla. – A 70-year-old man living illegally in the United States is facing severe felony charges and certain deportation following a Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) investigation into the disappearance and exploitation of a local teenager.
Jose Valerio-Rodriguez, a Cuban national, was apprehended on March 3, 2025, after detectives linked him to a 16-year-old girl who had been reported missing. The case, which began as a search for a runaway, quickly escalated into a major human trafficking and sexual assault investigation.
The Discovery and Investigative Breakthrough
The case broke on February 17, 2025, when the missing 16-year-old returned home and provided deputies with a harrowing account of her time away. The juvenile revealed she had been staying with a homeless man known only as “Jose” in a tent located in a wooded area behind a Palm Coast gas station. She further disclosed that a sexual incident had occurred between them during her stay.
Detective First Class Kathryn Gordon of the FCSO Major Case Unit led the investigation, immediately engaging the Florida Department of Children and Families and the First Coast Child Protection Team for forensic examinations and trauma-informed interviews.
The Arrest and DNA Evidence
Investigators identified Valerio-Rodriguez as the occupant of the tent behind the gas station. Following a thorough investigation, detectives secured search warrants for his residence (the tent) and his DNA.
On March 3, 2025, Detective Gordon and Sergeant Frank Gamarra located Valerio-Rodriguez and served the warrants. He was subsequently charged with:
- Human Trafficking
- Unlawful Sexual Activity with Certain Minors
Valerio-Rodriguez was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility—famously nicknamed the “Green Roof Inn” by Sheriff Rick Staly—where he is currently being held without bond.
The Role of the ICE Warrant Service Officer
A critical component of this arrest involves the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Warrant Service Officer (WSO) program. Because Valerio-Rodriguez was determined to be in the country illegally, federal authorities issued an immigration detainer.
In a direct exercise of local-federal cooperation, a Flagler County detention deputy—who is also a certified ICE Warrant Service Officer—served the detainer himself. This ensures that once the local criminal proceedings are completed, Valerio-Rodriguez will not be released back into the community; instead, he will be transferred directly to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody for deportation.
Sheriff Staly’s Response
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly issued a pointed statement regarding the arrest, emphasizing the collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
“This predator was living in the country illegally and took advantage of a child,” said Sheriff Staly. “He has earned himself not only a trip to the Green Roof Inn, but also a flight out of our country. The Sheriffs of the State of Florida stand united against criminal aliens. We pray the child victim receives the help she will need from this attack.”
The case is currently being prepared for prosecution. While the suspect faces state-level felony charges, his eventual deportation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection is guaranteed upon the resolution of the court case.