James Patrick Manning, Attempted Child Sex Trafficking, Tampa FL, 2023

TAMPA, FL – James Patrick Manning, 25, of Tampa, will spend the next decade in federal prison after being sentenced today for the attempted sex trafficking of a child. Chief United States District Court Judge Steven D. Merryday handed down the 10-year sentence, a clear message that predators targeting children will face severe consequences.

The case, which originated with an indictment on March 29, 2016, unfolded as a chilling example of online exploitation. Court documents reveal Manning responded to a deliberately placed advertisement on Backpage.com, posted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). He initiated contact with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a young girl, brazenly expressing his desire for sexual contact with a 14-year-old.

The investigation quickly escalated. Manning engaged in explicit text message exchanges, negotiating a price for the exploitation of the minor. He then drove to a pre-arranged meeting location and, without hesitation, paid an undercover agent believing he was about to engage in a horrific act. The sting operation, meticulously planned and executed by HSI, brought his depravity to an immediate halt.

“This sentencing sets a new precedence aimed at the demand for child sex trafficking, or ‘johns,’” stated Susan L. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Tampa. “These criminals will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The statement underscores the agency’s commitment to dismantling the networks that facilitate this vile trade and holding those who fuel it accountable.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations spearheaded the investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney Stacie B. Harris successfully prosecuting the case. This conviction is a direct result of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Project Safe Childhood, led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), pools federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those who prey on children. Anyone with information regarding child sexual exploitation is urged to visit www.justice.gov/psc to learn more about the program and how to report suspected abuse. The grim reality is, Manning is not alone, and vigilance is paramount in protecting vulnerable children.