HONOLULU (KHON2) -- A 32-year-old man from Puna has been sentenced to a 10-year prison term for the electronic enticement of a child, stemming from a case part of Operation Keiki Shield. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Sonny E. Puerto, also known as Junya, was sentenced Monday in Hilo Circuit Court after being convicted of attempting to engage in sexual acts with an undercover police officer he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Puerto was arrested following an investigation in May 2021 as part of Operation Keiki Shield, a collaborative effort between state, federal, and local law enforcement agencies to combat internet-facilitated sex crimes against minors. In July 2024, Puerto was found guilty of Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree. Mother of slain Maui woman speaks out against drunk driving Prosecutors presented evidence that Puerto had exchanged sexually explicit text messages with the officer, requesting intercourse and other sexual acts. Following the guilty verdict, prosecutors requested that Puerto, who had been released on $30,000 bail, be taken into custody without bail. The court increased his bail to $500,000 and remanded him into custody until his sentencing. Electronic Enticement of a Child in the First Degree is a Class B felony, carrying a mandatory 10-year prison sentence without the possibility of probation, as well as a requirement for sex offender registration. The case was led by Detective Gavin Kagimoto and prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Ha‘aheo Kaho‘ohalahala and Patrick Muñoz. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Anyone with information related to such crimes is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.