Oscar Mata Lemus Sentenced for Exploiting Minors

Oscar Mata Lemus, a 26-year-old resident of Haverstraw, New York, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for enticing multiple minors to engage in sexual activity. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Cathy Seibel, following Mata Lemus's guilty plea to three counts of enticement on November 25, 2025. In addition to the prison term, Mata Lemus will serve a 15-year term of supervised release.

According to the U. S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, Mata Lemus's offenses involved three minors, identified as Victim-1, Victim-2, and Victim-3.

The case was prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division, with Assistant United States Attorney Marcia S. Cohen leading the prosecution.

Details of the Offenses

The investigation revealed that Mata Lemus, who was 23 years old at the time, first communicated with Victim-1, a 14-year-old minor, in April 2024. Mata Lemus misrepresented his age, telling Victim-1 that he was 16 years old. On April 23, 2024, he entered Victim-1's bedroom in Rockland County, New York, through a window and engaged in sexual activity with her.

Prior to the incident with Victim-1, Mata Lemus had also abused at least two other minors. In January 2024, he met Victim-2, another 14-year-old, via social media. Mata Lemus similarly lied about his age to Victim-2, claiming to be 16.

He met her in the Bronx on multiple occasions between January and April 2024, during which they engaged in sexual activity. Mata Lemus documented these encounters by taking photos and videos, some of which were later recovered from his phone during the investigation.

In June 2023, Mata Lemus met Victim-3, a 15-year-old from Mississippi, through social media. He falsely claimed to be 17 years old and persuaded Victim-3 to send him sexually explicit images. Mata Lemus also directed Victim-3 to engage in numerous live video sessions, during which he requested that she perform sexual acts on camera.

Law Enforcement and Prosecution

The successful prosecution of Mata Lemus was the result of a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Town of Ramapo Police Department, and the Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which includes special agents and officers from various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald emphasized the seriousness of Mata Lemus's crimes, stating, "Oscar Mata Lemus’s conduct is the nightmare of any parent. Today’s sentencing illustrates that we will continue to use every tool available to law enforcement to prosecute and punish those who sexually exploit children."

The case underscores the commitment of law enforcement and the judicial system to protect minors from sexual exploitation and to hold offenders accountable for their actions. Mata Lemus's sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and serves as a warning to others who might engage in similar conduct.