Jacksonville Predator Cobb Indicted for Targeting 13-Year-Old

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Jerry Alexander Cobb, 37, of Jacksonville, Florida, is facing a lifetime behind bars after being indicted on federal charges of attempting to entice a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. The indictment, announced by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe, details a disturbing pattern of online grooming and explicit solicitation.

According to court documents, the FBI initiated an undercover operation on a social media application, targeting adults seeking to exploit children. Between July 18 and August 1, 2025, an undercover agent (“UC”) engaged in online and text-based communications with a user identified as “Jerry.” Even after explicitly informing “Jerry” that “she” was 13 years old, Cobb persisted, immediately pivoting to inquiries about the “child’s” location, ability to sneak out, and sexual history. The language used, as outlined in the indictment, is chillingly direct.

The communications escalated rapidly. On July 30, 2025, “Jerry” brazenly suggested a hotel rendezvous, proposing they engage in sexual activity and even offering to use a condom. Just days later, on August 1, 2025, Cobb demanded an explicit photo and finalized plans to meet the undercover agent, believing he was about to commit a horrific act. The FBI moved swiftly, intercepting Cobb as he traveled to the planned meeting location on the evening of August 1, 2025.

Cobb was immediately arrested and ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with the potential for life. He also faces a potential lifetime term of supervised release. An indictment is not a conviction; Cobb is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the evidence presented thus far paints a grim picture of calculated predatory behavior.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown and is a key component of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation. The investigation involved a coordinated effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, demonstrating a unified front against those who prey on the vulnerable.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it progresses through the federal court system. For more information on Project Safe Childhood and resources for protecting children, visit www.justice.gov/psc. This isn’t just a case; it’s a stark reminder of the dangers lurking online and the critical need for vigilance.