OCALA, Fla. — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando investigation has led to a guilty plea for a Florida man for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Joseph Raymond Morin, 51, of Ocala, faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, between May 3 and June 26, Morin communicated online with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. However, he was actually communicating with an undercover HSI special agent. Morin engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the undercover agent. Ultimately, Morin was arrested when he traveled to a predetermined meeting location in Marion County to meet with the fictious minor to engage in sexual activity.
This case was investigated by HSI and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.