Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Entice And Meet An 11 Year Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Amol Chandrashekhar Khedkar (59, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to using his cellphone and the internet to attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Khedkar faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Khedkar was arrested on November 29, 2023, and he has been detained since that time. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 19, 2024.

According to court documents and evidence discussed in open court, on November 28, 2023, an undercover FBI agent (the "UC") in the Jacksonville area was conducting an online undercover operation to identify adults seeking to meet and engage in sexual activity with children. Posing as the parent of an 11-year-old child, the UC posted a notice in the open forum of an online social messaging application (the "app"). Minutes later, an individual named "drbrownee," who was subsequently identified as Khedkar, contacted the UC online via private message on the app. After being advised of the "child's" age, Khedkar confirmed that he would "love to see [the "child."] He asked the UC specific questions about access to the "child" and the "child's" sexual experience. Khedkar and the UC discussed meeting in person the next day at the "child's" residence. Khedkar stated, "I'll show up, … [t]hen you can invite me inside."

On November 29, 2023, Khedkar and the UC exchanged text messages and confirmed meeting later that day at a prearranged location in St. Johns County. When Khedkar arrived at the location, he was arrested by FBI agents as he exited his vehicle. During an interview, Khedkar stated that his username was "drbrownee," he used his online account to communicate with the UC, he asked the UC about sexually abusing the "child," and he directed the UC to take a shower with the "child." A review of the contents of Khedkar's cellphone, pursuant to a search warrant, revealed that it contained the online communications and text messages exchanged between Khedkar and the UC, as well as photos depicting the sexual abuse of children.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. It is being 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 and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.jutice.gov/psc.