VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Some Volusia County residents are upset after finding out their neighbor was flying under the radar as a sex offender.
According to investigators, Wilfredo Madera moved to Florida from New York, but never registered as a sex offender with the state. Most recently he had been living on Zinnia Drive in Deltona, authorities said.
The investigation started with a tip from an anonymous caller who stated Madera was living in Florida unregistered and paying someone in New York to confirm his address there.
Authorities said it's unclear how long Madera has been living in Volusia County.
"It's good to know who is your neighbor, especially, I have a daughter. She's 16 years old and I want to know that she's safe," said neighbor David Morales.
Morales said he had no idea his neighbor had been sentenced to six years in prison in 2005 for sexually abusing a 14-year-old in New York.
"I wouldn't want to have a neighbor who had a background like that living next to me," said resident Mary Beth Kirschbaum.
Madera is accused of paying someone to mail in his sex offender address verification paperwork. His wife wouldn't discuss the case with Channel 9, but denied Madera was paying anyone.
The suspect has been indicted for violating the United States Sex Offender and Notification Act.
WFTV
