Colorado Dentist Busted for Attempting to Lure an 8 year Old into Sex

Jason James Atha, a 49-year-old dentist from Broomfield, Colorado, has been charged with attempted enticement of a minor under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), following a lengthy undercover investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The charges allege that Atha attempted to lure a supposed 8-year-old girl into illicit sexual acts through conversations conducted on a mobile messaging application, as revealed in a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida.

Investigation Background

The investigation began in October 2023 when an undercover HSI agent, posing as a mother of a young girl, initiated contact with Atha via the app. Atha, using the username "avalanche21199," quickly expressed interest in engaging in sexual activities with the child. Over the course of several months, Atha communicated extensively with the undercover agent, making explicit references to his sexual desires and intentions regarding the child, whom he believed was 8 years old.

Explicit Conversations Documented

Throughout their exchanges, Atha revealed a shocking level of detail regarding his desires. He queried about the child's age, behavior, and preferences, while outlining how he envisioned sexual encounters involving himself, the undercover agent, and the child. Atha suggested methods of interaction and expressed his enthusiasm about the illicit activities.

Evidence from the undercover operation documented graphic conversations where Atha indicated he had been fantasizing about sexual interactions with the child. He discussed explicit sexual acts he wished to perform, including asking the agent if they could "play" together with the child. The communication also included discussions about specifying inappropriate clothing for the child and even purchasing flavored lubricant for the encounter.

Final Arrangements and Arrest

The investigation escalated as Atha made plans to travel from Colorado to Florida, with a round-trip flight booked for August 9, 2024, intending to meet the supposed mother and her daugher. Text and voice recordings confirmed Atha's commitment to the meeting and shared detailed conversations about what he anticipated during the visit.

On August 9, 2024, federal agents observed Atha at Denver International Airport checking in for his flight to West Palm Beach. Upon arrival, he was met by the undercover agent, at which point he was arrested. During his arrest, Atha questioned how authorities might have learned about his plans and insisted that the weekend was going to be "just fun."

Legal Proceedings Ahead

Following his arrest, Atha waived his Miranda rights and confessed to his online interactions, admitting his knowledge of the content of the conversations and detailing his intentions to engage in sexual acts with the child. His phone, confiscated at the time of arrest, contained applications used to communicate and share illicit materials.

Atha faces significant penalties if convicted. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), attempted enticement of a minor can result in a life sentence with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. Additionally, Atha may be subject to a maximum fine of $250,000.

On August 22, Jason James Atha was indicted in the Southern District of Florida on charges of attempting to entice a minor and transporting child pornography.

This case highlights the urgent need for continued vigilance against child exploitation and the importance of law enforcement in protecting vulnerable individuals from such heinous acts.