Tampa Republic

Joseph Raymond Morin, 51, of Ocala, Florida, has pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Morin faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, between May 3 and June 26, 2024, Morin communicated online with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. The individual was actually an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent. During their interactions, Morin engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover agent. He was subsequently arrested when he traveled to a pre-determined meeting location in Marion County with the intent to meet the fictitious minor for sexual activity.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children sexually and to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.