Convicted child sex offender busted again trying to entice a child for sex
On February 5, 38-year-old Jeremy Wayne Leggett of Jacksonville pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to entice a child to engage in sexual activity. Leggett is looking at a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison, and a potential lifetime term of supervised release.
Leggett was already a registered child sex offender, having been previously convicted in Florida back in 2020 of traveling to meet a minor to commit an unlawful sexual offense, and transmitting harmful materials to a minor. Leggett was arrested again on June 19, 2023, for his most recent offense and has been in custody since then.
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Background: On June 16, 2023, an undercover FBI agent (UC) in the Jacksonville area, posing as a minor child, was working online in a particular social media application to identify individuals seeking to contact and engage in sexual activity with children. The UC engaged in an online conversation with an app user “dAddi” who posted a notice in a public chatroom that read: “Lookingfor[under 18 emoji] wannaspoiladaughter.”
During this online conversation, “dAddi,” who was subsequently identified as Leggett, was advised that the “child” was 13 years old. Leggett asked if the “child” “[l]ike[d] older men,” and sent the “child” a photo of himself. After more conversation, Leggett suggested that they meet in person for sexual activity, and he sent the “child” an explicit photo of himself.
On June 17, 18, and 19, 2023, Leggett reinitiated text messages with the UC and continued attempting to persuade the “child” to meet for sex and to send him sexually suggestive photos.
On June 19, 2023, Leggett and the “child” made arrangements to meet at a location in Jacksonville. Later that evening, Leggett went to the agreed-upon location and drove around the parking lot for about 30 minutes. When law enforcement officers attempted to make contact with Leggett, he quickly reversed his vehicle and fled the scene. A short time later, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and FBI agents located Leggett at a home in Jacksonville and he was arrested.
Leggett’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2025.
This was another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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