Frederick M. Pohl, Jr., a 40-year-old man from Clermont, Florida, has been arrested and charged with attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and transferring obscene materials to a child. The arrest, announced by United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez, marks the culmination of an undercover sting operation targeting online predators.
Pohl was taken into federal custody on May 21, 2019, after arriving at a predetermined meeting location at an Orlando hotel, believing he would meet an 8-year-old girl for sex. Unbeknownst to him, the person he had been communicating with online was an undercover federal agent posing as both the child and her father. The digital trail revealed a disturbing pattern of grooming behavior, including the exchange of explicit photographs of himself.
When arrested, Pohl was found in possession of condoms and a child-sized pink dress—evidence investigators say underscores the premeditated nature of his actions. The criminal complaint filed against him alleges that he actively pursued the opportunity to meet the girl, making specific plans and traveling to the hotel with materials intended for use in a sexual assault.
If convicted, Pohl faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He remains in custody without bond as the case proceeds through the federal justice system. Authorities emphasize that while the charges are serious, a criminal complaint is not a conviction, and Pohl is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a key agency in the federal government’s efforts to combat child exploitation. Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta is prosecuting the case. Anyone with information related to this or similar crimes is urged to contact HSI at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (347-2423).
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat the spread of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Through coordinated federal, state, and local efforts, the program aims to identify predators, rescue victims, and dismantle networks that enable child exploitation. More information is available at www.justice.gov/psc.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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