Benjamin Hoover, Obscene Material Transfer to Minor, Florida 2025

Ocala Man Charged with Obscene Material Transfer to Minor

Ocala, Florida – In a disturbing case, Benjamin Hoover, a 44-year-old resident of Ocala, Florida, has been indicted for attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, on July 23, 2025, Hoover transferred a sexually explicit image of himself to someone whom he believed was a 15-year-old girl. In actuality, the minor was an undercover detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

The indictment, which is a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison if convicted. Hoover is currently detained pending the resolution of the case.

An investigation by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations led to the charges being brought against Hoover. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of 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 marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

Hoover’s case highlights the ongoing threat of child predators and the importance of continued efforts to protect children from exploitation. The community is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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

Mandatory Facts: Defendant/Respondent: Benjamin Hoover, Exact Criminal Charges: attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, City and State: Ocala, Florida, Exact Date: July 23, 2025, Sentence or Outcome: currently detained pending the resolution of the case.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/ocala-man-indicted-attempted-transfer-obscene-material-minor