Man pleads guilty to attempted sexual enticement of a 13-year-old girl

HONOLULU, Hawaii – Zachariah Fredrickson, 32, of Kapolei, Hawaii, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. He entered his plea pursuant to a binding Plea Agreement with the government, in which the parties jointly recommended a sentence to include 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor.

U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price for the District of Hawaii stated that according to court documents and information presented in court, on March 25, 2019, Fredrickson engaged in a series of online chats with an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl. During their conversations, Fredrickson arranged to meet the girl in person with the intent to engage in sexual activity. Fredrickson then traveled to the agreed-upon location, and was later arrested.

“This investigation is yet another step forward in our journey to protect our children from those who seek to do them harm. My office will continue its quest to bring justice to those who attempt to sexually exploit our children,” stated U.S. Attorney Price.

"We must protect the children of Hawaii and our Nation. The FBI is committed to identify sexual predators and bring them to justice,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Eli S. Miranda.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Hawaii Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Early.

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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.