A Florida man has been sentenced to 22 years and seven months in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor into sexual activity. Chad Allen Pease, 49, of Fort Pierce, was convicted on November 20, 2024, by a federal jury. The sentencing took place on February 20, 2025.
Pease's conviction followed an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Orlando. He was found guilty of trying to induce a minor to engage in sexual acts while being a registered sex offender.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti commented on the case, stating: "This predator intentionally singled out a child, devised a plan, and executed it with the sole purpose of harming the most vulnerable in our community." Pezzutti acknowledged the collaborative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The trial revealed that on February 3, 2024, Pease began communicating with an undercover officer posing as the father of a 13-year-old girl. During their conversations, Pease planned to meet with the officer and his "daughter" for sexual purposes. Pease traveled 18 miles to the arranged meeting location but conducted counter-surveillance before fleeing. Law enforcement later identified him and arrested him at his home.
Pease had previously been convicted of a similar offense in 2008 when he sent explicit photographs and traveled with the intention of engaging in sexual activities with someone he thought was a minor. Since then, he has been required to register as a sex offender.
The case involved collaboration between ICE Orlando and several local law enforcement agencies. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Varadan and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
