German citizen sentenced to life in prison for flying to Florida for sex with underage girl
A German citizen and resident of Switzerland was sentenced to life in prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, acting U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announced Thursday.
Meinrad Kopp, 55, pleaded guilty Sept. 22. Between April 26, 2017, and June 16, 2017, Kopp used the internet to communicate with an undercover agent about his desire to practice “a range of sadistic sexual activities.”
Prosecutors say Kopp mentioned wanting to humiliate and inflict severe pain on the girl by “treating her like a dog” and “torturing her with certain instruments.” Kopp also said he had previously beaten an 11-year-old boy with a leather belt.
When Kopp arrived in Orlando, he was immediately arrested by Homeland Security agents. Inside his luggage, they found weights, clamps, rope, tape, a bottle brush, a flashlight and a camera he planned to use to record his encounter with the girl, according to court documents.
Kopp reportedly admitted to traveling to the area for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a young girl.
“This case should serve as warning to other child predators,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “We will find you, arrest you and make sure that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
In addition to his life sentence, Kopp has been given a life term of supervision and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine. He must also forfeit the electronic devices he used to commit the offense.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office as part of Project Safe Childhood. The Department of Justice launched the initiative in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Ryan Callihan: 941-745-7095, @RCCallihan
This story was originally published December 14, 2017 at 4:14 PM with the headline "German citizen sentenced to life in prison for flying to Florida for sex with underage girl."