United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Devin Joseph Rivera, a 24-year-old resident of Ocala, Florida, to 10 years in federal prison. Rivera pleaded guilty on September 20, 2024, to attempting to entice a minor for sexual activity.

Court documents reveal that on July 24, 2024, Rivera engaged in online communication with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. This person was actually an undercover special agent from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Rivera participated in sexually explicit conversations and was subsequently arrested when he arrived by bicycle at a pre-arranged location in Marion County with the intent to meet the "child." He had brought along a blanket and a condom.

"Actively scouring the dark web to find and collect sexual abuse content of children perpetuates the suffering of innocent victims around the world," stated Homeland Security Investigations Orlando's David Pezzutti. "This sentencing reflects the gravity of this predator’s crimes, as well as HSI’s commitment to shedding a light on the dark web to protect children from harm."

The investigation involved multiple agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Chiefland Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg prosecuted the case.

This case 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. The project coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute offenders while identifying and rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.