Sexual tourism is the act of traveling over the state or national border in order to engage in sexual activity with minors as defined by the law (under the age of eighteen). Sexual tourism is considered a serious sex crime in the United States.. Any person who knowingly procures or provides a facility or a means of travel for a person to participate in sexual tourism is also punishable under U.S. law.
Protect Act and Operation Predator has ensured that sexual tourism is met with stiff penalties on both state and federal levels. Even if you did not set out traveling with the intent of having sexual relations with a minor, you will be charged with sexual tourism if you participate in a non-premeditated sexual encounter with a minor while abroad. The penalties for sexual tourism for first time offenders is a minimal prison sentence of five years, with a maximum of thirty years for cases involving minors that are not children.
In cases where the minor is under the age of fourteen, the prison sentence may be much longer. There are also fees involved with sexual tourism charges, and heavy ones at that. Depending on the case, you may also be considered a sex offender and be required to register with the Florida state sex offender data base each year on your birthday for the remainder of your life. For repeat offenders of sexual tourism, there is a mandatory punishment of life in prison for sex offenses against minor children.