A Sarasota man, Javier Chavez, has pleaded guilty to charges of attempted enticement of a minor for sexual activity and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the plea in Fort Myers, Florida. Chavez, aged 34, faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and could be sentenced to life in federal prison. The sentencing date remains unscheduled.
Court documents reveal that on May 15 and 16, 2024, Chavez communicated with an undercover officer who posed as both the mother and the daughter—a girl purportedly aged 14. Despite being aware of her age, Chavez engaged in explicit conversations with the girl and sent her explicit videos. He was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office upon arriving at a location intending to meet the girl for sexual purposes. Chavez admitted his intentions were sexual when questioned by deputies.
The investigation involved both the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The program coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to apprehend offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.