Florida man sentenced to 60 years for child sex crimes overseas
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Pensacola investigation led to the sentencing of Jason R. Moore, 43, of Milton, to 60 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.
Moore engaged in this conduct in the Republic of Fiji from March 2013 through February 2016. HSI special agents and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in Santa Rosa in late 2022, after a victim of his sexual abuse crimes came forward.
“Individuals who masquerade under a disguise of public trust and prey on the vulnerability of children in their own home should expect to be held fully accountable for their actions,” said HSI Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “I commend the victim for having the courage to come forward. HSI’s strong partnerships with HSI Buffalo and the New York State Police were key in holding this sexual predator responsible for turning a child into a lifelong victim.”
Moore’s prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to all sex offender conditions.
“There is no greater charge than the protection of our children,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Jason R. Coody. “This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.”
This case resulted from a joint investigation by HSI, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg and trial attorney Adam Braskich of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case.
“As a former preacher, Moore had plenty of access to children in a role that placed him in a position of trust for parents and the community,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Pensacola Special Agent in Charge Chris Williams. “Taking this dangerous predator off the streets was a priority for our agents. I thank them for their commitment to this case as well as that of our partners. I’m glad to know Moore will be in prison for years to come.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
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