Palm Bay Man Sentenced To 30 Years For Internet Solicitation Of A Minor

Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon, II has sentenced Jean Roussel Eloi (30, Palm Bay) to 30 years in federal prison for Internet solicitation of a minor. The court also ordered Eloi to forfeit a cell phone that he had used as part of the offense. A federal jury found him guilty on February 3, 2015.

According to testimony presented at trial, on the night of July 20, 2014, Eloi 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. When he arrived at the prearranged location, deputies arrested him.

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

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 sentencing emphasizes that child exploitation is one of the most heinous crimes we investigate," said Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa. "We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our children."

This case was investigated by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Task Force, This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.