U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg | U.S. Department of Justice
Javier Chavez, a 34-year-old resident of Sarasota, has pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to entice a minor into sexual activity and attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg in Fort Myers, Florida. Chavez is facing a federal prison sentence ranging from a minimum of 10 years to life, though no sentencing date has been set.
Court documents reveal that on May 15 and 16, 2024, Chavez engaged in communication with an undercover officer posing as both the mother and the daughter of a supposed 14-year-old girl. Despite knowing the girl's age, Chavez proceeded with sexually explicit conversations and sent explicit videos of himself. He was arrested by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office when he arrived at a location in Lee County intending to meet the girl for sexual purposes. Upon his arrest, Chavez admitted his intentions were indeed sexual.
The investigation was conducted by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan is handling the prosecution.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. This program involves collaboration between federal, state, and local resources to track down offenders who exploit children while also working to rescue victims. More details about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
