Tampa Man Indicted for Coercing a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material, and Transferring Obscene Material to a Minor

Tampa, Florida - Angel Rivera (49, Tampa) has been charged by indictment with coercion and enticement and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, production of child sexual abuse material, and transfer of obscene material to a minor. If convicted on all counts, Rivera faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, between October 15 and November 22, 2025, Rivera knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, coerced and attempted to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce an individual under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. On October 16, 2025, Rivera attempted to transfer obscene material to an individual who he believed to be under the age of 16. On October 19 and October 22, 2025, Rivera allegedly employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.