FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A Cuban migrant living in the U.S. without documentation is set to be deported following his conviction for sexually assaulting a teenager, as reported by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Jose Valerio-Rodriguez, 70, a Cuban national who resided illegally in a tent situated behind a gas station in Palm Coast.

Authorities recounted that in February 2025, they were contacted by a 16-year-old girl who had been previously reported missing. During the investigation, she relayed her experience to the deputies.

According to the sheriff’s report, the teenager revealed that she had been staying with a homeless man named Jose in his tent behind the Palm Coast gas station, where a sexual encounter occurred between them.

Valerio-Rodriguez faced arrest shortly after the incident came to light. On Wednesday, he was sentenced following his guilty plea to charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct involving a minor.

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Now, Valerio-Rodriguez is set to spend six years in prison, followed by nine years of sex offender probation and registration. The sheriff’s office said he will likely be 75 years old when he’s deported.

“Valerio-Rodriguez is a disgusting pervert who coerced and sexually assaulted a teen through drugs and fear,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “Valerio-Rodriguez came illegally into this country and later assault a teenager. Had he committed these crimes in his homeland of Cuba, he would have faced the death penalty and likely not given the rights he exercised in America, so instead of taking advantage of America and assaulting our citizens, he should have been thankful.”

In addition, deputies said that prosecutors dropped one charge of child abuse against Valerio-Rodriguez in exchange for his guilty pleas.