Ft. Lauderdale Swim Coach Admits to Sex with Kids

Broward County swim coach Roberto Caragol, 35, of Plantation, confessed he had sex with minors and traded hundreds of pornographic images of young boys via e-mail, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday in federal court.

Now law enforcement officials are urging parents and students with any information about improper sexual contact by the coach to come forward.

Caragol surrendered to federal authorities Tuesday after investigators discovered roughly 40 sexual images of boys under the age of 18 on his laptop computer, the complaint states.

In an interview with an FBI agent, the coach admitted he had engaged in sexual activity with children under the age of 18 dating to 2001, according to the complaint; he said he was not "presently engaging" in sex with minors.

Caragol has coached swimming at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale since 2006, working primarily with 8- to 14-year-old swimmers.

He is charged with one count of possessing child pornography, but federal officials said they expected the investigation to expand into Caragol's admission that he had sexual contact with children.

In a letter to parents sent Wednesday, Pine Crest officials said the school had placed Caragol on administrative suspension and is cooperating with law enforcement. A background investigation of Caragol before his hiring was clear, the letter stated.

The Broward Sheriff's Office received a tip from America Online in August that Caragol's e-mail address had been used to send apparent child pornography, according to the criminal complaint outlining the probe.

Investigators questioned Caragol on Oct. 17, and he turned over his laptop computer voluntarily, the complaint states.

A search of the laptop uncovered 40 images of young boys in the nude and engaging in sexual activities. Caragol, who worked at Cypress Bay High School as a part-time coach from July 2005 to June 2007., said he had other images that he threw away after investigators first questioned him.

Caragol, who has no previous criminal violations in Florida according to state records, made his initial appearance in Miami federal court Wednesday afternoon. U.S. Magistrate Edwin Torres ordered him to remain in custody and set a bond hearing for Monday.