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Rivera, Devin Joseph – Attempted Enticement of a Minor, Florida 2024
Ocala, Florida – In a shocking case of online predation, Devin Joseph Rivera, 24, of Ocala, has been indicted for attempting to entice a minor for sex. According to court records, Rivera contacted an undercover Homeland Security Investigations agent posing as a 13-year-old girl on social media and engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. Rivera agreed to meet the minor at a predetermined location in Marion County, where he was subsequently arrested.
Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg is prosecuting the case, which is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Chiefland Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Rivera’s indictment comes as part of a growing concern over online child exploitation. In recent years, law enforcement agencies have seen a rise in cases involving adults attempting to entice minors for sex through social media and other online platforms.
Rivera’s bond has been set at $500,000, and he is currently being held at the Marion County Jail. If convicted, he faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years to life in federal prison.
Meanwhile, two other men have been indicted for similar crimes in Marion County. Rickey Lee Miller, Jr., 45, of Ocala, was charged with attempting to entice a 15-year-old girl for sex, while Obdy Mencia Guerrero, 40, of Honduras, was charged with attempting to entice a 14-year-old girl for sex. Both men are currently being held without bond.
The cases against Rivera, Miller, and Guerrero are a stark reminder of the dangers of online predation and the importance of vigilance when it comes to protecting our children. As a community, we must work together to prevent these crimes and bring perpetrators to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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