A Jacksonville man who thought he was arranging a “play date” with an 11-year-old girl is now heading to federal prison for over a decade. Noel Daniel Simonca, 48, was sentenced to 14 years behind bars by U.S. District Judge Jordan Emery Pratt after a digital trail led FBI agents straight to his door.
The case began in late 2024 when an undercover FBI agent posted a message in a public chat room, posing as someone with access to a young child. According to court records, Simonca responded almost immediately under the username “mdesase.”
During their conversations, Simonca was blunt about his intentions, telling the agent he would “love to see” the child and stating a sexual preference for children between the ages of 8 and 13.
The investigation escalated as Simonca and the undercover agent discussed a physical meeting. In those messages, Simonca went into graphic detail about his plans and even sent the agent photos of another minor child to facilitate a “trade.”
READ: The Deathbed Secret Of A $1.3 Million North Carolina Heist: FBI Finally Finds Their Man
By mid-January 2025, Simonca told the agent he was “available to help” teach the child about sex, suggesting the agent tell the girl it was just a “photo shoot” to get her to cooperate.
The trap was finally sprung on January 19, 2025. Simonca drove to a prearranged spot in Jacksonville, expecting to meet the agent and the 11-year-old. Instead, he was met by FBI teams and placed under arrest.
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the sentencing this week, noting that Simonca had pleaded guilty back in October.
In addition to his 14-year prison term, Simonca must serve 10 years of supervised release and register as a sex offender for life. The investigation into Simonca’s digital life also led the FBI to another individual outside of Florida who was trading illicit images, resulting in a second arrest in February 2025.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
