News Releases

New Jersey man sentenced to 10 years for enticing Florida pre-teen to engage in sexually explicit conduct

TAMPA, Fla. - A New Jersey man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison today for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, following an investigation by U.S. Immigrations and Custom Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Daniel G. Devoe, 26, of Lake Ariel, Pa., and formerly of New Jersey, was also ordered to forfeit numerous pieces of electronic media, which were used in the commission of the offense.

Devoe pled guilty on June 29.

According to court documents, Devoe met an 11-year-old minor, who resides in Clearwater, Fla., on a social networking website. He and the minor exchanged contact information and began communicating via text messaging.

Devoe sent sexually explicit photographs to the minor via text message and enticed the minor to send him sexually explicit photographs. Devoe was 24 years old at the time of the offense.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacie B. Harris.

The investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers, and foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.