June 3, 2026 – SAN JOSE, CA – Edy Antonio, Jr. was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to coerce and entice two minors to engage in sexual activity.  U.S. District Judge Noël Wise handed down the sentence.

Antonio, 31, of Salinas, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 6, 2025, and pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026, to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.  According to his guilty plea, on April 21, 2025, Antonio responded to an advertisement on a website dedicated to promoting commercial sex services.  The advertisement depicted persons Antonio believed to be two minor girls, ages 12 and 14 years old.  Antonio responded via text message and agreed to pay $500 to engage in sexual conduct with the minors.  Antonio then traveled to the agreed location at a hotel in Salinas, where he was arrested by Salinas Police Department officers.  The complaint describes that Antonio worked as a respiratory therapist at two hospitals in Salinas and Monterey.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Jeff Brannigan made the announcement.

Antonio has been in custody since March 3, 2026.  He will begin serving his prison term immediately.  In addition to the prison term, Judge Wise also sentenced the defendant to a 15-year period of supervised release which will begin after his term of imprisonment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Griswold is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Elise Etter.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI and the Salinas Police Department.

Source: DOJ Release