Joshua Friedbauer, a 61-year-old Tampa resident, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for luring a juvenile and receiving child sexual abuse materials. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington imposed the sentence. Friedbauer had already pled guilty to the charges on July 5, 2023.
According to court documents, Friedbauer traveled to the Philippines in June 2021 to meet a 13-year-old child victim who resided with her destitute mother.
Friedbauer, who was romantically involved with the victim’s mother, compelled and induced the youngster to engage in sexually explicit behavior for the purpose of taking photographs. He gave the child money and presents in exchange. Friedbauer continued to press and shame the victim for more photographs even when she resisted or refused to participate fully.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt stated, “This predator traveled internationally and exploited the impoverished financial status of a mother and her child to create sexually explicit imagery for his perverse conduct. The vile actions of child predators make lifetime victims of their prey and cause irreparable harm.”
HSI Tampa investigated the case, with assistance from the Philippine National Police. Erin Claire Favorit, an assistant United States Attorney, prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice project initiated in 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project combines federal, state, and local resources to discover, capture, and prosecute those who exploit children, as well as to rescue victims.