Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
A man who was allegedly employed by a local church as a driver is now facing charges after police say he sent sexually explicit messages to a 13-year-old girl he drove to and from church classes.
Elvin Daniel Ortiz Cruz, 23, was charged with promoting sexual performance by a child, electronic transmission harmful to a minor, and soliciting and luring a child to engage in sex, according to reporting from Channel 7 News. Ortiz Cruz was allegedly working as a van driver for the Ministerio Internacional Jesús El Salvador on Northwest 23rd Street. Ortiz Cruz reportedly began transporting the child to and from church classes in 2024 and police believe there may be more victims.
After discovering the messages on her daughter’s phone the girl’s mother reported them to police who began investigating. As a part of the investigation, detectives from the Miami Police Department and the Special Victims and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) units launched an undercover operation and pretended to be the victim, exchanging messages with Ortiz Cruz, according to local media.
A police spokesperson speaking with reporters commended the mother’s actions in this case and hoped more parents would do the same.
“We’re encouraging parents to speak to their children, review their phone messages, phone calls, and if you suspect any type of inappropriate activity, please contact the department with this information,” she told Channel 7 News.
Leesfield & Partners
Tragically, in today’s modern world, children are vulnerable online. Predators pose as other minors in online chatrooms, target children via social media and through online video games. About 300 million children a year are victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse, according to the Global Child Safety Institute.
When the abuse occurs in person, it is often tragically at the hands of a person in a position of trust, including teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, tutors, coaches, or church officials. In 49 years of personal injury law, the attorneys at Leesfield & Partners have represented numerous cases, all devastating, in which these individuals betrayed that trust. In data from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds. Every nine minutes, that person is a child.
With these shocking numbers, it is perhaps even more jarring to discover that only 25 out of every 1,000 perpetrators of sexual abuse will be convicted for these crimes.
Through decades of litigating these horrific cases, Leesfield & Partners has seen firsthand the damage that this trauma can do to unsuspecting survivors and victims. Our firm believes in holding responsible parties accountable for the long-lasting scars that can occur as a result. Obtaining mental health services and other support can be crucial for survivors and victims to begin piecing their lives back together and continuing to heal following these horrific incidents. This is why Leesfield & Partners’ Founder and Managing Partner, Ira Leesfield, has focused so heavily on organizations that support women’s and children’s initiatives through his charitable organization, The Leesfield Family Foundation.
Partner Justin B. Shapiro and Evan Robinson, a Trial Attorney at the firm, are representing a minor and her family after a horrific and gruesome sexual assault has left her traumatized. The assault happened at a local gym where there had been prior incidents involving the 22-year-old man trying to “fight” other gym goers. Despite these outbursts, no actions were taken by the gym to either revoke this individual’s membership or limit his access to the gym.
As a result of this horrific assault, out 14-year-old client has been left with PTSD, and night terrors.
Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Attorney at the firm, is representing a woman who was left traumatized after it was discovered that an employee with the cruise ship she was traveling on had planted hidden cameras in her room and the room of other passengers. Many of the victims who were filmed without their knowledge included children.
This employee was sentenced to 30 years in prison for creating child sex abuse material.
That case is ongoing.
Representing Victims and Survivors
Leesfield & Partners has represented victims and survivors in numerous cases involving sexual abuse and the negligence of corporations, management companies, and other entities responsible for ensuring their safety. Recently, Mr. Leesfield and Trial Attorney Carlos A. Fabano obtained a confidential settlement on behalf four clients who were sexually abused as children by the same church official while they attended parochial schools.
Partner Justin B. Shapiro secured a $16 million settlement for a couple who were brutally attacked while staying as guests at a hotel. The assailant in that case viciously beat both victims. He also raped and sexually assaulted the wife.
Despite the hotel’s known history of violent incidents, management had disregarded repeated recommendations from both law enforcement and a private security firm to employ armed security personnel.
On the day of the incident, the attacker gained unrestricted access to the hotel due to the absence of basic safety measures, such as functioning locks or keycard-secured elevators. He went up to the couple’s floor, where he launched a violent assault—first attacking the husband, then brutally beating and raping the wife. Disturbingly, hotel staff and on-site security witnessed parts of the attack but failed to intervene.
Previously, the firm secured $8.6 million for a camper at a well-known Florida summer camp. A camp counselor in that case was later found to have been sexually abusing our minor client. The camp ignored clear warning signs, to the detriment of the child they were entrusted to protect.
Leesfield & Partners attorneys previously secured a confidential settlement for a child who was flying as an unaccompanied minor on an airline and meant to be under the care of flight officials. During the flight, the child was sexually abused by another passenger.
In a case involving multiple students who were sexually abused by a teacher at a prestigious Florida high school, the victims and survivors were paid multi-million-dollar reparations thanks to the work of Leesfield & Partners.
The firm represented a Canadian cruise ship passenger who was attacked and raped in her private cabin by a crew member. This crew member used his employee keycard to enter the woman’s room. A multi-million-dollar recover was obtained for the woman in that case.
A store clerk was awarded $1.13 million in a negligent security case at a shopping mall following an incident in which the clerk was robbed and brutally raped.
A hotel maid was raped while on the job by a man who was not a guest who roamed the property without being questioned. Leesfield & Partners secured a $1 million settlement for the woman.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse, you are not alone. Help can be found by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
