Jason M. Strubberg, Online Predation, MO 2024

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A New Haven, Missouri man is headed to federal prison for a decade after attempting to prey on what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. Jason M. Strubberg, 27, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 10 years without parole, following a conviction secured at trial on September 21, 2016. The victim? An undercover law enforcement officer.

The case unfolded after a Boone County Sheriff’s Department detective initiated an online sting operation on January 6, 2016, posting an advertisement designed to lure potential sexual predators. Strubberg responded almost immediately, showering the decoy with emails. He was provided a phone number and a fabricated story about needing help with a “14-year-old daughter’s respect issues” – a classic tactic used by predators to gauge interest.

Strubberg didn’t hesitate. He brazenly presented himself as a “dominant” figure and agreed to “help” with the fictitious teen, demanding a signed contract granting him permission to engage in what he clearly intended to be sexual acts. He was sent two images, purportedly of the “daughter,” and over the following 48 hours, detailed his depraved plans, including descriptions of deviate sexual intercourse. The language, according to court documents, left no room for doubt about his intentions.

The escalation continued with Strubberg sending a legally dubious contract via text message, demanding it be signed to authorize the abuse. He then requested a face-to-face meeting with the decoy and her “daughter” to carry out his horrific scheme. On January 8, 2016, Strubberg arrived at the designated meeting place and was immediately taken into custody.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Miller prosecuted the case, with crucial investigative work provided by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department’s cyber crimes task force, the FBI, and the University of Missouri Police Department. This conviction is part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood,” a nationwide initiative aimed at combating the pervasive and sickening epidemic of child sexual exploitation.

Project Safe Childhood, launched in 2006, brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those who harm children. More information on the initiative, and internet safety resources, can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc. This case serves as a stark reminder of the predators lurking online and the vital work of law enforcement to protect vulnerable children.