American gets 5 years in jail for sex tourism in RP

NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) – An American was sentenced to five years and five months in a US prison on Monday for arranging sex with underage girls in the Philippines.

Daniel Cuneo, who was caught in a 2005 sting, was also fined $3,000 under the sentence imposed by US District Judge Jose Linares.

Cuneo, 38, pleaded guilty Nov. 20 to a single count of engaging in sex tourism. The charge carries up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Cuneo, who operated a website called ladyparadise.com, admitted that he arranged a trip to the Philippines for a customer and offered to serve as a personal tour guide. Cuneo, who was to be paid for making hotel reservations and renting a yacht, also admitted giving advice on how to find girls who could be hired for sex.

Cuneo, who did not know that the customer was an undercover agent with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was arrested at a hotel near Newark Liberty International Airport on July 19, 2005, as he was about to fly to the Philippines. He has been held on $1-million bail since his arrest.