MIAMI – A retired Boca Raton attorney pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain sexually explicit images from someone he believed was a 16-year-old girl through an online messaging application.
Darryl Kogan, 68, of Boca Raton, pleaded guilty to attempted receipt of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to court records, on Feb. 18, a purported 16-year-old began communicating with Kogan through an online messaging application. During their conversations, Kogan discussed engaging in sexual activity and exchanging sexually explicit images with the purported minor.
Kogan sent the purported minor a sexually explicit photograph of himself and repeatedly requested sexually explicit images in return. At one point, Kogan told the purported minor, “Need pics to start the process.” When the purported minor indicated that she was having difficulty sending images through the application, Kogan provided specific instructions for taking and transmitting a sexually explicit photograph.
Law enforcement subsequently identified multiple accounts associated with Kogan that he used to engage in sexually explicit communications concerning minors.
“This was not an accidental or ambiguous online exchange. Darryl Kogan, a retired attorney, believed he was communicating with a 16-year-old girl, sent her a sexually explicit image of himself, repeatedly asked her for sexually explicit images, and gave her specific instructions for producing them. His guilty plea is another reminder that professional status offers no shield from accountability, and that the internet does not provide anonymity or protection to those who seek to exploit children. Those who attempt to sexually exploit minors online will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida.
Kogan faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.
FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi Anton is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case numbers 26-cr-60256.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Southern District of Florida — U.S. Department of Justice press release.