Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Gernain Jackson (33, Duval County) has pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28, 2016, before United States District Judge Paul G. Byron.
According to court records, from August 2015 to September 2015, Jackson engaged a 13-year-old boy from Orlando in chats over Facebook, KIK messenger, Skype, and the telephone, through which Jackson enticed the minor to produce child pornography. Through the online contact, Jackson enticed the minor to send him sexually explicit images. On or about September 6th and 13th, 2015, Jackson met the minor in person while attending church functions in Jacksonville. During that time, Jackson met the minor in the bathroom several times throughout the day and fondled him.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
