Brunswick man faces federal charges after St. Johns County arrest

Jeremy Hughes charged with attempted online enticement of child

St. Johns County Sheriff's Office booking photo of Jeremy Hughes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One of 13 men arrested in St. Johns County last month in a sting of people using the internet to entice juveniles into having sex is now facing federal charges, as well.

Jeremy Lee Hughes, 41, of Brunswick, Georgia, was arrested and charged by the U.S. attorney in Jacksonville. Under federal law, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, if convicted. Hughes remains in jail on charges in St. Johns County.

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According to the criminal complaint, Hughes engaged in a series of online conversations the first week of April with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. This "child" was actually a St. Johns County undercover officer.  During the conversations, Hughes described various types of sexual activity to the “child” and indicated his desire and intent to meet her for sex at her residence. 

Prosecutors say Hughes drove from Jacksonville to a location in St. Johns County to meet the “child” for sex and was arrested. During an interview, Hughes acknowledged texting with the “child” about engaging in graphic sexual acts. 

According to the complaint, Hughes has outstanding arrest warrants for charges of aggravated child molestation and incest in Georgia. 

"Operation End of the Road" netted 13 arrests of men ages 21 to 60 years old who thought they were going to meet minors 16 or younger for sex, St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar said.