Federal Jury Convicts Kissimmee Man Of Attempting To Entice A Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a jury has found Damien Suhr (41, Kissimmee) guilty of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Suhr faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 26, 2024. Suhr was indicted on June 28, 2023.

According to evidence presented at trial, on May 27, 2023, the FBI was involved in an operation with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. As part of this operation, a profile was created by the FBI on a dating application (app) which indicated that the user, "Jack," was an adult, but depicted a photo of a police decoy who was 14 years old when the photo was taken. "Jack" and Suhr began exchanging messages on the dating app, then quickly switched to exchanging text messages in which "Jack" made clear to Suhr that he was 14 years old. For two weeks, Suhr spoke to "Jack" about engaging in sex with him. Suhr explained in detail the sexual acts he wanted to perform on and with "Jack." Additionally, he directed "Jack" to delete his text messages with Suhr to avoid detection by his mother or law enforcement. Suhr chose a location at a gas station that was convenient for him to meet "Jack" and sent messages to "Jack," requesting that he wear a specific type of underwear to the meeting.

On June 9, 2023, Suhr went to the gas station to meet with "Jack." Suhr was met and arrested by law enforcement officers. Evidence presented at trial showed that Suhr had previously exchanged messages with other online users about his desire to have sexual encounters with minors as young as 12 years old.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kaley Austin-Aronson and Dana Hill.

This is another case 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 the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.