A Honduran national pleaded guilty to sexual abuse for grabbing the buttocks of three children in a Medford department store.
On April 19, 2025, a seven-year-old victim was shopping with her mother at TJ Maxx. She asked for permission to look around the toy aisle, to which her mother agreed. While the child was in the toy aisle, Jimmy Harry Velasquezgomez walked towards the victim and squeezed her buttocks with his hand. The child immediately went back to her mother to tell her what happened. The mother looked for Velasquezgomez but was unable to locate him. She called the police, who arrived on the scene and began an investigation.
On September 20, 2025, an 11-year-old victim was with her parents inside the store when she walked away to look for a gift for a friend. She observed Velasquezgomez nearby, holding his genitals through his clothes. A short time later, Velasquezgomez walked toward her and grabbed her buttocks with his hand as he passed. The victim told her parents what happened, but the defendant had already left the store. The family called the police and reported the incident.
On October 29, 2025, a nine-year-old victim was shopping with her mother and asked for permission to walk to the far side of the aisle to look at toys. Velasquezgomez passed the victim, looked down the aisle a few times, approached the child, pulled up the bottom of her sweatshirt and squeezed her buttocks. The child ran to her mother and the police were contacted.
The Suffolk County Police Department gathered evidence, including video surveillance, which showed Velasquezgomez on each incident date. Velasquezgomez was also observed on video surveillance touching his genitals over his clothes while staring at the nine-year-old victim.
The defendant was arrested on November 1, 2025, in East Islip and has remained in custody since his arrest.
On August 27, 2026, Velasquezgomez, 44, pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis to three counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D violent felony.
“This defendant deliberately targeted innocent children as they went about their daily lives, exploiting their vulnerability for his own sickening purposes,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “My office will not tolerate predators who threaten the trust and security that Suffolk County families deserve. We remain resolute in defending our community against those who harm children.”
Velasquezgomez is due back in court on October 9, 2026, at which time he will be sentenced to three terms of six years in prison, to run concurrently, followed by ten years of post-release supervision. A full stay-away order will be in effect for each of the victims. Velasquezgomez was certified as a sexual offender.
Anyone who believes they or their child was the victim of Velasquezgomez is asked to contact the Suffolk County Police Department Special Victims Section at 631-852-6184.