3 men indicted on federal child exploitation charges

PENSACOLA, Fla. — A federal grand jury returned three indictments Wednesday, charging three individuals with child exploitation offenses. The indictments are the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bay County Sheriff's Office and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The first indictment charges that between June 13 and June 16, Jeffrey Monroe Roy, 47, of Saraland, Ala., knowingly attempted to persuade, induce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and knowingly traveled from Alabama to Florida for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. If convicted of the first count, Roy faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a minimum of five years of supervised release and a $100 special monetary assessment. If convicted of the second count, Roy faces up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a minimum of five years of supervised release and a $100 special monetary assessment.

The second indictment charges that between June 14 and June 15, Thomas Monroe Lee, 40, of Gadsden, Ala., knowingly attempted to persuade, induce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Lee faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a minimum of five years of supervised release and a $100 special monetary assessment.

The third indictment charges that between June 13 and June 15, Brennon Kyle Holley, 33, of Pensacola, knowingly attempted to persuade, induce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Holley faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a minimum of five years of supervised release and a $100 special monetary assessment.

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

The charges contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.