PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe today announced the return of a superseding indictment charging Lee Hughes, 45, of Pinellas Park, with serious federal offenses related to child exploitation.
Hughes, a former third-grade teacher at Pinellas Prep Academy, faces charges of attempted transmission of harmful material to a minor, attempted enticement or coercion of a minor, and receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material.
If convicted on all counts, Hughes faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.
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According to the indictment and court documents, Hughes allegedly engaged in disturbing communications with an undercover officer, believing the officer to be the parent of a nine-year-old daughter.
The federal indictment from the United States District Court Middle District of Florida details that Hughes messaged an undercover account in June of 2024, discussing “getting into nude time at the home” and expressing a desire to connect.
Hughes reportedly discussed with the undercover his interest in a sexually open household and stated he wanted to babysit a purported nine-year-old female child, telling the undercover, “I’d definitely love her on my lap lol.”
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The undercover then sent Hughes a photo of the fully clothed nine-year-old. In response, Hughes allegedly sent a message with his genitals exposed and a message that said “should show and see if she likes lol.”
From June 2024 until his arrest, the indictment alleges Hughes consistently messaged the undercover about sexual abuse he wanted to inflict on the nine-year-old. He allegedly sent the undercover officer ten different pictures and videos of his genitals and requested that they be shown to the nine-year-old.
The investigation culminated on May 1, 2025, when Hughes traveled to an agreed-upon location with the intent to meet the child, at which point he was arrested. A subsequent search of Hughes’s cellphone by law enforcement revealed that he had received and was in possession of child sexual abuse material.
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The day after the arrest, Pinellas Prep Academy parents received a message from the school stating that Hughes had been fired.
Pinellas Prep provided the following statement regarding his arrest:
“PPA was not aware of any investigation into Mr. Hughes until he had already been taken into custody. As soon as we were told he was taken into custody he was immediately terminated. We were told initially and have been reassured that at this time there are no suspected improper activities or interactions between Mr. Hughes and any student at PPA. Additionally, every person who works at PPA must pass a Level II background check. This process includes employees being fingerprinted, their background check being run by law enforcement, and review by the School District for clearance to hire. Mr. Hughes had successfully passed the required background check. In short, PPA had no indication that there was anything in Mr. Hughes’ background or an investigation into any current activity by Mr. Hughes that endangered the safety of students at PPA. The health, safety, and welfare of our students and employees is of most importance at PPA. The administration is following up with law enforcement to understand why the investigation into Mr. Hughes was not brought to the school’s attention any earlier than after his arrest. We will continue to offer services to students and stakeholders in the PPA community. Please reach out to us if you have any concerns. PPA remains and will continue to be an amazing educational option for its current students and students in the future.” – Julie Meyers, Chairman, PPA Board of Directors
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood aims to combat the escalating crisis of child sexual exploitation and abuse by bringing together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to rescue child victims.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Abigail K. King will prosecute the case.
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