RIVERSIDE, NY — A Honduran national pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse in connection with grabbing the buttocks of children in TJ Maxx in Medford on three separate occasions, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said.
Jimmy Velasquez-Gomez, formerly of Mastic, was arrested on Nov. 1, 2025, in East Islip and has remained in custody since his arrest.
He is due back in court on Oct. 9, at which time he will be sentenced to three terms of six years in prison, to run concurrently, followed by 10 years of post-release supervision.
Velasquez-Gomez was previously highlighted, as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's "Worst of Worst" press releases.
Patch has reached out to his defense attorney, Daniel Belano of Islandia, for comment.
"This defendant deliberately targeted innocent children as they went about their daily lives, exploiting their vulnerability for his own sickening purposes," he said. "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," he said.
On April 19, 2025, a seven-year-old victim was shopping with her mother at TJ Maxx, and she asked for permission to look around the toy aisle, to which her mother agreed, and while the child was there, Velasquez walked towards her
and squeezed her buttocks with his hand, prosecutors said.
The child immediately went back to her mother to tell
her what happened, and the mother looked for Velasquez-Gomez but was unable to find him, according to prosecutors.
She called the police, who arrived on scene and began an investigation, prosecutors said.
On Sept. 20, 2025, an 11-year-old was with her parents inside the store when she walked away to look for a gift for a friend, and Velasquez-Gomez nearby, holding his genitals through his clothes, according to prosecutors.
A short time later, he walked toward her and grabbed her
buttocks with his hand as he passed, prosecutors said.
The child told her parents what happened, but Velasquez-Gomez had already left the store, according to prosecutors.
The family called the police and reported the incident, prosecutors said.
In the third incident, on Oct. 29, 2025, a nine-year-old was shopping with her mother and asked for permission to walk to the far side of the aisle to look at toys, and Velasquez-Gomez passed her, looked down the aisle a few times, approached the child, pulled up the bottom of her sweatshirt, and squeezed
her buttocks, according to prosecutors.
The child ran to her mom and the police were contacted, prosecutors said.
Suffolk police gathered evidence, including video surveillance, which showed Velasquez-Gomez on each incident date, according to Velasquez-Gomez, according to prosecutors.
Velasquez-Gomez was also seen on video surveillance touching his genitals over the clothes while staring at the nine-year-old victim, prosecutors said.
A full stay-away order will be in effect for each of the victims. Velasquez-Gomez was certified as a sexual offender.
If you believe that you or your child has been the victim of Velasquez-Gomez, please contact the Suffolk police Department Special Victims Section at 631-852-6184.
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