Tampa man sentenced for using phone, computer to arrange sex with minor

TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa man was sentenced June 19 to 10 years and one month in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release for using a cell phone and computer to arrange for sex with a 14-year-old child. The sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

According to testimony, Brian Weiss, 39, used his cell phone and computer to arrange a meeting for sex with a person he believed was a 14-year-old child. He communicated with the "child" and also with a person he thought was the child's guardian. Unbeknownst to Weiss, both the "child" and the "guardian" were law enforcement officers acting in an undercover capacity. During conversations with the "child," Weiss discussed explicit sex acts and sent an explicit photo of himself. Weiss then drove from Tampa to a location approximately 70 miles away, to meet and have sex with the "child." He was immediately arrested and was found to be in possession of condoms.

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.