TAMPA, Fla. — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa investigation has led to the sentencing of a Clearwater man for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Caleb Belanger, 25, of Clearwater, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The court also ordered Belanger to pay $3,000 in restitution and forfeit an iPhone and iPad that were used to commit the offenses. Belanger entered a guilty plea on March 26.
According to court documents, Belanger enticed approximately 30 minor females, all between the ages of 13 and 17 years old, to take sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves and send the images to him via a mobile application in exchange for money, vapes and alcohol. He also offered money in exchange for sex and other sexual acts. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Belanger’s home and seized his iPhone and iPad. A search of those devices revealed that Belanger possessed 1,209 images and 111 videos of child sexual abuse.
This case was investigated by HSI Tampa with assistance from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Tarpon Springs Police Department, the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Tampa Police Department. U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber presided over the case with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ilyssa M. Spergel and Ross Roberts as prosecutors.