ORLANDO, Fla. — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando investigation has led to the indictment of a Florida man in the Middle District of Florida for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender.
Chad Allen Pease, 48, of Fort Pierce, faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years and up to life in federal prison if convicted. The indictment also notifies Pease that the United States intends to forfeit assets that were used in commission or are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.
According to court documents, on Feb. 3, Pease, a registered sex offender, began communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer he believed to be the father of a 13-year-old girl. Over the course of the conversation, Pease made plans to meet up with the undercover agent and his “daughter” so Pease could have sex with the child. On Feb. 4, Pease traveled to the prearranged meeting spot. He was later arrested.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by HSI Orlando and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Varadan.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.