ORLANDO, Fla. – A Florida man has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a 13-year-old girl online to engage in sexual activity following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando.
Juan Fernandez, 37, of Casselberry, faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, on Feb. 1, 2024, an undercover agent with HSI Orlando posed online as a 13-year-old girl. Fernandez contacted the undercover agent’s account, and after learning the child’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. Fernandez then arranged to meet the “child” at a predetermined location in Orange County to engage in sexual activity. When he arrived at the meeting location, he was arrested by law enforcement.
This case was investigated by HSI Orlando and the Orlando Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
To report any information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse, or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material contact the HSI Tip Line at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP; or report it through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website.
The HSI Tampa area of responsibility, which includes ten geographically strategic offices, covers more than 51,600 square miles of the total 65,757 square miles in the state of Florida. This region has more than 14.2 million people and includes 58 of the 67 counties. HSI Tampa also includes five of the ten largest cities in Florida, 15 primary commercial service airports, and 11 seaports.
Learn more about HSI Tampa’s mission to increase public safety in Florida communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSITampa.