Tampa man sentenced to 15 years in prison for exploiting Filipino child

TAMPA, Florida – Joshua Friedbauer, a 61-year-old man from Tampa, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for enticing a minor and receiving child sexual abuse material.

US District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Friedbauer, who pleaded guilty on July 5, 2023.

According to court documents, Friedbauer visited the Philippines in 2021 and met the 13-year-old victim through her impoverished mother.

Friedbauer, who had a romantic relationship with the mother, coerced, persuaded and used the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing photos.

Friedbauer provided the child with money and gifts. When the child victim resisted or did not fully cooperate, Friedbauer continued to pressure her for more images.

The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual abuse. Image: icegov/IG

“This predator traveled internationally and exploited the impoverished financial status of a mother and her child to create sexually explicit imagery for his perverse conduct,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt.

“The vile actions of child predators make lifetime victims of their prey and cause irreparable harm.”

Pagitt said the sentencing was a “testament to the strength of our global network of law enforcement partnerships, including the Philippine National Police, and our commitment to serve and protect victims of human trafficking and exploitation.”

The case was investigated by HSI in Tampa, with assistance from the Philippine National Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit.

The case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

More information about Project Safe Childhood is available here.