A 24-year-old Florida man has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for luring three boys through online gaming and social media.

The Scottsdale Police Department began an investigation in 2023 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip from a mother who discovered sexually explicit images and messages on her 11-year-old son’s cell phone.

Police found the messages were coming from Jacob Lozano in Florida who the boy met while playing Fortnite, according to a release from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

An undercover detective posing as the victim started messaging the suspect who continued sending explicit images of himself and child sexual abuse materials.

“During the investigation, police discovered two more victims in Maricopa County whom Lozano messaged on Discord and coerced into making videos over a webcam,” the release stated.

Lozano pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and three counts of attempt to commit aggravated luring of a minor.

“Jacob Lozano found a child’s online playground and used it as a means for his own gratification,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said.

“I commend the parent in this case who was paying close attention. She saw what her son was receiving through his online gaming and called law enforcement. That’s the kind of vigilance that pays off for her child and children everywhere.”

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