Noel Simonca, 48, messaged an undercover detective posing as someone with access to an 11-year-old for sex and offered to “trade” children, the DOJ said.<\/p>\n
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 A child sex predator from Jacksonville is heading to federal prison and could stay there for several years.<\/p>\n
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Tuesday that Noel Daniel Simonca, 48, was sentenced to 14 years after attempting to get sexual access to what he thought was an 11-year-old child. He pleaded guilty to the crime in October.<\/p>\n
The investigation into Simonca began in December 2024 during an undercover operation aimed at tackling online predators. A detective was posing as someone with access to an 11-year-old, and made a post to a social messaging app. A user by the name of “mdesase,” later identified as Simonca, messaged the detective shortly after.<\/p>\n
The DOJ said Simonca told the undercover detective he wanted to see the child and that he had a sexual preference for children “8-13.” He discussed meeting to have a \u201cplay date\u201d and to \u201ctrade [children].\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Simonca sent UC two non-explicit photos of an actual minor child who has since been identified by the FBI,” the DOJ said in its announcement.<\/p>\n
Simonca was arrested by the FBI on Jan. 19, 2025, after driving to a predetermined location to meet the undercover detective and the “child.”<\/p>\n
In addition to receiving prison time, Simonca was ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender.<\/p>\n
The investigation also led detectives to another alleged predator, who had sent child sexual abuse material to him previously, according to the release. That person was arrested in February 2025.<\/p>\n