A New York City Fire Department captain charged with sexually molesting two young boys in Hollywood is being extradited to Los Angeles, law enforcement sources confirmed.
Wilbert Riera, 51, a 21-year-veteran of the department, was charged with six felony counts of lewd acts on a child under the age of 14, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
Riera, a FDNY EMS captain, was en route to LA on Wednesday in the custody of the LAPD’s Fugitive Task Force to face charges for alleged crimes in Hollywood, law enforcement sources in both New York and LA told the NBC 4 I-Team.
Sources said LAPD officials pushed the extradition to happen Wednesday, a day earlier than scheduled in a New York courtroom – to avoid media attention.
Riera could appear in court in LA as early as Thursday.
The cases allegedly happened Sept. 12 through Sept. 14, in Hollywood, prosecutors said. It is unclear how he knew the two vicitms.
Riera returned to New York after visiting Los Angeles, and was arrested Sept. 26.
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LAPD is continuing to investigate and if convicted, Riera faces up to life in state prison.
Riera was suspended without pay for 30 days, the maximum permitted under state law, according to the Associated Press.
Riera works as a paramedic with the department, and just last year was honored during a FDNY ceremony.
He's part of a group of New York firefighters suing the department for unpaid wages and overtime.
