Jacksonville, Florida – Adeis Jonathan Francis (26, Jacksonville) has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison by United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger for attempting to entice and meet a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Francis was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. He was arrested on March 6, 2026, and has remained in custody. He pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between February 17 and March 6, 2026, an FBI agent (UC), posing as a 13-year-old child, conducted an undercover operation in north Florida using an online social media application (“app”) to identify adults who were seeking to make contact with and engage in sexual activity with children. During this period, UC and app user “Jay,” exchanged several online messages on the app and by text messaging. After UC advised “Jay” that the “child” was 13 years old, “Jay,” who was identified as Francis, asked the “child” if “she” was ok talking with him, and requested the “child” to send him photos. On March 5, 2026, Francis asked the “child” if she was a “virgin” and texted, “I can show you how to have sex ...” Francis also described by text message the sexual acts that he wanted to perform on the “child.” After more text conversations discussing his plans and desire to meet the “child” in person for sex, on March 6, 2026, Francis traveled to the vicinity of the “child’s” purported residence where he was arrested by FBI agents. During an interview, Francis stated, among other things, “I’m not gonna get to go home for months,” and “so I’m going to prison.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and Pensacola. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is 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. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.