A former Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) detective has been sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Josue Garriga, 35, known as “Sway,” pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2024. He met the 17-year-old victim at church in 2023 and initiated a sexual relationship. Garriga used his position as a law enforcement officer to gain the victim’s trust and continued the abuse until March 2024.
The abuse included inappropriate touching, exchanging explicit photos, and forcing the victim into sexual acts. Garriga even used his JSO vehicle on multiple occasions to transport the victim and engage in illegal sexual activity.
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“This individual violated his position of trust in the community and sought to take advantage of a child for his own satisfaction,” said Tim Hemker, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) in Jacksonville. “This conviction stands as a testament to the commitment of HSI and our law enforcement partners with the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, including the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. HSI is committed to identify and bring to justice those who exploit the vulnerability of our children.”
Following his release from prison, Garriga will be required to register as a sex offender and serve 10 years of supervised release. He has also forfeited the cellphones used to commit the crimes.
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The case was investigated by the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, a collaboration between Homeland Security Investigations, JSO, and other local law enforcement agencies.
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