Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of a Minor

OCALA, Fla. — Ismael Osbaldo Pedro Tomas pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

The 24-year-old Guatemalan national admitted he arranged to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl for the purpose of sexual activity. Federal sentencing guidelines mandate a minimum term of 10 years in prison and allow a maximum of life imprisonment. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

The plea resolves a single-count federal case brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Under federal law, attempted enticement of a minor carries the 10-years-to-life penalty range once a defendant crosses the threshold from online communication to concrete steps toward an in-person meeting.

The conviction triggers immediate collateral consequences. Tomas will be required to register as a sex offender upon release. The plea also ends any prospect of legal immigration status for Tomas, who now faces almost certain removal proceedings after serving his sentence.

This case is one of dozens of federal enticement prosecutions brought each year by the Middle District of Florida, which includes the Ocala division. The Department of Justice has pursued such charges under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) against both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals who travel domestically to meet minors.

Sentencing will be set by U.S. District Judge in accordance with the federal sentencing guidelines, which treat the age of the purported victim and the defendant’s conduct as primary factors. The mandatory minimum leaves the court no discretion below 10 years regardless of other mitigating factors.