Jason Daniel Freiberg, a 47-year-old man from Defiance, Ohio, was sentenced to 37 years in prison for exploiting a minor online. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In 2023, following his past conviction for a similar offense, Freiberg engaged an 11-year-old girl from Western Michigan in sexually explicit conversations online, despite her clearly stating her age. The girl reported that Freiberg solicited and received sexually explicit images and videos from her. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, announced that "Despite his previous conviction, Freiberg once again set out to sexually exploit a little girl," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Freiberg will serve a 324-month sentence for the exploitation charges, alongside a separate ten-year consecutive sentence for committing the crime as a registered sex offender.
"This conviction closes out a two-year investigation and reflects the strong partnership between local and federal agencies to protect children and hold predators accountable," said Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief David Boysen. He added, "This is also a reminder for parents and guardians to stay alert to their kids’ online activities; predators can often hide behind screens and vigilance is the first line of defense." Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said, "The 37 year long sentencing of Jason Freiberg is a crucial success toward protecting the children of Michigan from the heinous acts of those who target and exploit them." The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative to combat child sexual exploitation online, as mentioned by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
