⏱ 2 min read
Brian James Verka, a 39-year-old man from Beverly Hills, Florida, attempted to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex in Marion County. Between May 27 and June 2, 2026, Verka communicated online with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent, believing her to be a minor. He described his desire to engage in sexual activity and asked for explicit images. Verka was arrested on June 2, 2026, when he traveled to meet the minor.
Verka has been charged by indictment with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted production of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, he faces a minimum prison sentence of 10 years, up to life, on the attempted enticement offense, and a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to 30 years, for the attempted production offense.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Verka is currently detained pending the resolution of the criminal proceedings. An indictment is merely a formal charge, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Florida
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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