Recidivist child predator, sex offender sentenced to more than 22 years

ORLANDO, Fla. – A Florida man was sentenced Feb. 20, 2025, to 22 years and 7 months in federal prison for attempting to entice or induce a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Orlando.

Chad Allen Pease, 49, of Fort Pierce, was found guilty by a federal jury on Nov. 20, 2024.

“This predator intentionally singled out a child, devised a plan, and executed it with the sole purpose of harming the most vulnerable in our community,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI investigators, alongside our partners, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, have successfully removed another predator from the streets.”

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 3, 2024, Pease began communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer whom Pease believed to be the father of a 13-year-old girl. Over the course of the conversation, Pease made plans to meet up with the undercover agent and his “daughter” so that Pease could have sex with the child. Pease drove 18 miles to the meeting location and conducted counter-surveillance before fleeing the scene. Law enforcement identified Pease, reconstructed his activities that evening, and later arrested him at his residence.

Pease was previously convicted of a sex offense in 2008, after sending explicit photographs and traveling to have sex with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. He has been required to register as a sex offender ever since.

This case was investigated by ICE Orlando and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Varadan and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)