A 21-year-old Chilean man was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday after officials say he developed an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl he met virtually on Roblox and flew to the United States to meet her.
Daniel Aravena Oliva “spent several months manipulating and grooming” the 13-year-old victim via online platforms before being arrested on suspicion of child exploitation and producing child pornography. The Glendora Police Department said in a Facebook post. Lt. Matt Fenner, a spokesman for the agency, said Oliva now also faces federal charges in the case.
Oliva first contacted the girl through Roblox, the extremely popular online gaming platform, Fenner said.
“He lured her away from that to somewhere where he could talk more freely,” Fenner said. They eventually communicated on Zoom as well as other online platforms, he said.
On Wednesday morning, Oliva arrived at LAX “with the intent to exploit a minor,” police said. He had booked an Airbnb near the child’s home and had decided to meet her in person, officials said.
Glendora police detectives worked with Homeland Security Investigations on the case. Tips on how to keep children safe online from the National Children Advocacy Center can be found here.