Palm Bay man sentenced to 30 years for Internet solicitation of minor

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Florida man was sentenced Monday to 30 years in federal prison for Internet solicitation of a minor. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cocoa Beach Resident Agent in Charge office, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Palm Bay Police Department.

According to testimony presented at trial, on the night of July 20, 2014, Jean Roussel Eloi, 30, of Palm Bay, started an online chat session with an 11-year-old girl who lived in Palm Bay. The next day, the girl reported the chats to her mother. After the mother contacted law enforcement, an undercover detective began engaging in a series of chats with Eloi, who explicitly detailed the sexual acts he wanted to perform with the “girl.” Eloi eventually asked the “girl” to meet him and when he arrived at the prearranged location, deputies arrested him.

According to evidence presented during the sentencing hearing, Eloi admitted to and was charged with having sex with a 13-year-old girl in Palm Beach County in 2006.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey stated, "I applaud this partnership and the agencies involved who stand between our most defenseless citizens and those who wish to harm them. Through their outstanding efforts, an individual who actively participated in the exploitation of our children has been removed from our communities.”

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.