Former New London Resident Enters Plea In Sex Solicitation Case

NEW LONDON, CT — A former New London resident has pleaded guilty to charges that he reentered the U.S. illegally and solicited sex from a girl, according to federal prosecutors.

Rafael Vincente, 41, a Guatemalan citizen last living in New London, pleaded guilty this week to charges that he returned to the U.S. after being deported and attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old, according to the statement.

Vincente was previously convicted in state court in October 2004 of negligent homicide and evading responsibility in a motor vehicle accident resulting in death. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended after 13 months. In July 2005, he was deported to Guatemala, prosecutors said.

He returned to the U.S. in June of last year and was arrested by Groton Town police. He was charged with attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree attempted sexual assault, and attempted risk of injury to a child.

The state charges stem from Vincente being caught in an undercover law enforcement operation. He responded to an advertisement on Skip the Games, a website commonly used to advertise commercial sexual activity, and traveled to a hotel in Groton to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex, according to prosecutors.

He has been detained since his arrest in November.

He is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 7, 2026, when he will face up to 10 years in prison.