TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jelani Amari Petersen, 28, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
Petersen was found guilty by a federal jury after a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
The investigation, known as Operation Lifeguard, was an undercover operation designed to apprehend individuals who use the Internet to sexually exploit children online. In September 2024, Petersen communicated with an undercover officer who he believed to be a minor female and expressed interest in engaging in sexual activity with the child in exchange for money.
When Petersen arrived at a pre-arranged meeting location, law enforcement arrested him and searched his car. A subsequent search of his cellular phone confirmed Petersen’s communication with the undercover officers.
Petersen will be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of attempting to entice a minor into unlawful sexual activity,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno. “Crimes targeting children – whether committed online or in person – inflict profound harm, and we remain steadfast in our mission to protect the most vulnerable.”
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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