An Indian national has pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor, according to the US Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida.

Kirtan Patel (24), will face a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. 

According to the plea agreement, between May 22 and 24, 2024, Patel communicated online with someone whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl.

The child, however, was an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent. Patel engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the undercover agent.

Ultimately, Patel was arrested when he travelled to a location in Marion County to engage in sexual activity with the child.

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.

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