DELRAY BEACH, FL – A Delray Beach man is facing serious charges after allegedly paying a teenage girl from Iowa to travel to Florida for illegal activities. Ronald Frankel, 68, reportedly met the 17-year-old on a dating app, where she was looking for a “sugar daddy.” Their interactions quickly escalated from video calls to an in-person encounter in Florida.
Prosecutors claim Frankel paid the girl between $200 and $300 for explicit video calls. In January, he allegedly sent her $1,000 for a plane ticket to Florida, instructing her to tell her mother she was visiting friends.
Upon her arrival on January 31, Frankel reportedly picked her up in a luxury car and took her to his home. The criminal complaint details multiple illegal encounters, one of which involved a $3,000 payment.
On February 1, Frankel allegedly took the girl on a shopping spree at a Boca Raton mall, buying her expensive gifts, including a diamond necklace and bracelet, as well as electronics and clothing. The following day, he reportedly paid her $1,000 for risky illicit activities.
The complaint also states that Frankel asked the girl if she had friends who might be interested in similar arrangements. He later arranged for her return to Iowa on February 2.
If Frankel is convicted, he faces a potential life sentence and significant fines.