Jorge Mojocoa, Attempting to Entice a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, Florida 2023

OCALA, FL – A 69-year-old Fort McCoy man, Jorge Mojocoa, has been convicted of a sickening crime: attempting to entice a 12-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. The federal jury delivered the guilty verdict this week, setting the stage for a potentially lengthy prison sentence. Mojocoa now faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years in federal prison, with the possibility of life behind bars.

The disturbing details of the case, revealed during the trial, paint a grim picture of predatory behavior. On March 30, 2022, Mojocoa responded to a deliberately placed online advertisement. The post, created by an undercover law enforcement officer, depicted a minor child purportedly suffering from severe physical disabilities – including paralysis and autism – and offered the child for sexual services in exchange for cash. The operation was designed to snare predators like Mojocoa.

Over the course of two days, Mojocoa engaged in explicit conversations with the undercover officer, discussing arrangements to meet with the “12-year-old girl.” He ultimately agreed on a price and drove to a predetermined location intending to commit the act. Law enforcement officers were waiting. During the arrest, authorities discovered lubricant and candy in Mojocoa’s possession – items he had specifically agreed to bring for the encounter, according to court documents.

This wasn’t a spontaneous act, but a calculated attempt to exploit a vulnerable individual. The investigation, a collaborative effort between multiple agencies, highlights the ongoing battle against child sexual exploitation. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Secret Service, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement all contributed to bringing Mojocoa to justice.

Assistant United States Attorneys Tyrie K. Boyer and Belkis H. Crockett are prosecuting the case. Mojocoa’s sentencing is scheduled for June 8, 2023, before Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell. The government will likely seek the maximum sentence given the horrific nature of the offense and the vulnerability of the intended victim.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders, and to rescue victims. Anyone with information about suspected child exploitation is urged to contact authorities or visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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