TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Gabriel Michael Stoelzel, 26, formerly of Tallahassee and currently residing in Port St. Lucie, Florida, has admitted to a horrifying litany of crimes against children. Stoelzel pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity, distribution of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography – offenses that strike at the heart of community safety.
The case, announced by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida, stemmed from CyberTips received by the Tallahassee Police Department in 2024. These alerts, flagged by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children from online social media platforms, revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior. Stoelzel wasn’t just passively consuming illegal content; he was actively spreading it and attempting to groom vulnerable minors.
Court documents paint a grim picture of Stoelzel uploading child pornography to social media servers and sharing the files with others. The investigation revealed he was actively communicating with individuals, some claiming to be as young as 14, attempting to convince them to meet him for sexual encounters. He used an online application to both send and receive the horrific material, demonstrating a calculated and predatory intent.
“It is one of our highest duties to protect our children from the predations of sex offenders like this defendant,” stated U.S. Attorney Heekin. “I applaud the outstanding investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to identify and catch this offender. My office will continue to prosecute these sick individuals with the full force of the law to keep our children safe both online and in our communities.”
Stoelzel now faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison, with the potential for a life sentence. Upon release, he will be subject to five years to life of supervised release. This isn’t just about punishment; it’s about incapacitation and preventing further harm. The joint investigation was conducted by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen leading the prosecution.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in 2006, the project pools federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute offenders and rescue victims. Sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2026, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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