Ismael Osbaldo Pedro Tomas, a 24-year-old Guatemalan national, has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, according to an announcement by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe on June 2. Pedro Tomas faces a minimum penalty of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
According to the plea agreement, between July 22 and August 11, 2025, Pedro Tomas communicated online with someone he believed was a 13-year-old child. The individual was actually an undercover detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. During their conversations, Pedro Tomas discussed engaging in sexual activity with the minor and exchanging money for it. He ultimately traveled to a predetermined meeting location in Marion County intending to meet the minor for that purpose, but was arrested by law enforcement upon arrival.
The case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. Project Safe Childhood coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to locate offenders who exploit children as well as identify and rescue victims.