TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Florida man pleaded guilty Wednesday to multiple felonies for trying to travel to Estonia to engage in sexual activity with a 13-year-old.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 25-year-old Austin Hibbert of Tallahassee pleaded guilty to persuading a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempting to travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and transferring obscene material to a person less than 16 years of age.

“I am incredibly grateful for the tireless efforts of our international and domestic law enforcement partners to investigate and intervene in cases like this, particularly because predators like this defendant are relentless in committing these disgusting crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Heekin. “This case represented one of parents’ worst nightmares – the targeting, grooming, and attempted exploitation of their child – but thankfully that nightmare did not become a reality for this family.”

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According to court documents, between May 2023 and August 2024, Hibbert chatted with the child daily after meeting her on a gaming website. he reportedly repeatedly told the child that he intended to travel to Estonia to engage in sexual activity with her, and sent her over a dozen explicit videos.

In August of 2024, Hibbert applied for a U.S. passport and booked an international flight from Tallahassee to Estonia, per court documents.

The day of the flight, on August 12, law enforcement said they intercepted Hibbert as he was attempting to board the flight at Tallahassee International Airport. A search of Hibbert’s carry-on bag yielded his passport, a bracelet, and a box of condoms.

Hibbert faces a minimum mandatory sentencing of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. He is set to be sentenced on October 27.

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