MIAMI — A dentist from Broomfield, Colorado, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to charges of attempted enticement of a minor and transportation of child pornography in a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami-West Palm Beach case.
Jason James Atha, 51, used a social networking application on his phone to solicit sex with an 8-year-old child through conversations with the child’s mother in the Southern District of Florida. The child’s purported “mother” was in fact an undercover HSI special agent. Atha’s communications detailed the sexual acts he wanted to engage in with the child. Atha flew to Palm Beach International Airport, in the Southern District of Florida, to consummate the sexual act and was arrested at the airport. A search of Atha’s devices revealed child pornography videos.
Atha faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison for attempted enticement of a minor and 20 years in prison for transportation of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of HSI Miami made the announcement.
HSI West Palm Beach investigated the case. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller is prosecuting it.
Anyone with information regarding child sexual exploitation and abuse is encouraged to call 877-4-HSI-TIP.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Learn more about HSI’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSI_Miami.