St. Cloud Man Pleads Guilty in Online Child Enticement Plot

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg dropped a bombshell in Jacksonville, FL, revealing that Daniel Michael Mohat (27, St. Cloud) has copped to attempting to entice a 14-year-old child into sexual activity online. The grim details of the case paint a picture of exploitation and premeditation, as Mohat sought out explicit content from his underage target.

According to court documents, in August 2022, an undercover operation was set into motion by law enforcement agencies, with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the FBI leading the charge. The operation was aimed at flushing out predators who prey on minors via the web. Mohat bit the hook after contacting a federal agent posing as a 14-year-old girl through social media.

The conversation soon took a sinister turn, with Mohat asking the fictitious teen to produce and send him explicit material. The predator’s audacity did not go unnoticed by law enforcement, who quickly moved in to apprehend him. Mohat now faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.

This harrowing case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative since 2006 dedicated to combating the epidemic of child sexual exploitation. The program has been instrumental in identifying, rescuing victims, and bringing predators like Mohat to justice.

Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian will be handling the prosecution of this despicable crime. For those looking to learn more about Project Safe Childhood and its ongoing efforts, the Justice Department’s official site at www.justice.gov/psc provides ample resources.

Mohat’s actions serve as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital world, and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement to protect our youth from such predators.

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