OCALA, Fla. — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando investigation has led to the unsealing of an indictment of an Indian national for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Kirtan Patel, 24, of India, faces a mandatory minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. Patel was arrested on the indictment on July 18. He is currently detained pending the resolution of the criminal case.
According to the indictment, between May 22 and 24, Patel knowingly attempted to persuade, induce, entice and coerce an individual he believed had not yet attained 18 years of age to engage in sexual activity.
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 Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
To report any information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse, or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or report it through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website. Callers may remain anonymous.
About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce consists of over 10,000 employees, assigned to 235 offices within the United States and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.