OCALA, FL – In a grim turn of justice, Joseph Dibello, 48, from Wildwood, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury of attempting to entice a 13-year-old girl into sexual activity. The charges against Dibello carry a minimum penalty of ten years up to life in federal prison.
According to trial evidence, on July 23, 2024, Dibello made contact with the minor through an online platform, under the guise of a teenager. He expressed his intent for sex and agreed to meet at a Marion County gas station. Upon arriving, Dibello discovered the encounter was a law enforcement sting operation, leading to a high-speed chase exceeding 100 mph before he was apprehended.
Upon his arrest at his girlfriend’s residence in Wildwood, Dibello confessed to his actions and intention to have sex with the minor. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving Homeland Security Investigations, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer is handling the prosecution of this case. Dibello’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 17, 2025.
This conviction comes under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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