Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg has announced the indictment of Noel Daniel Simonca, a 47-year-old resident of Jacksonville, for attempting to entice a minor child to engage in sexual activity. If found guilty, Simonca could face a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison, along with a possible lifetime term of supervised release. He was arrested on January 19, 2025.
Court documents reveal that on December 10, 2024, an undercover FBI agent (UC) in Jacksonville was engaged in an online operation aimed at identifying adults seeking to engage in sexual activities with children. The UC posed as the parent of an 11-year-old child and posted a message in a public chatroom on a social messaging app. Shortly thereafter, an individual using the app name “mdesase” contacted the UC via private text messages. This user expressed interest in meeting the fictitious child and indicated a preference for children aged “8-13.” By December 11, Simonca had been identified as "mdesase," and discussions about meeting for a "play date" were underway.
Between December 12, 2024, and January 19, 2025, further conversations took place between Simonca and the UC regarding meeting in person. On December 26, Simonca described his intended sexual activities with the UC’s “child.” They eventually agreed to meet at a specific location in Jacksonville Beach where Simonca planned to take photos of the "child." Upon arrival at this location on January 19, Simonca was arrested by FBI agents.
An indictment serves as a formal charge against a defendant for violating federal criminal law; it does not imply guilt unless proven otherwise.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted this investigation while Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown is handling prosecution duties.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to apprehend offenders who exploit children and rescue victims. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
