Orlando, Florida – A grand jury has returned an indictment
charging Richard Hoyt Crawford, Jr. (59, Port Orange) with attempting to entice
a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, he faces a minimum
mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment
also notifies Crawford that the United States intends to forfeit an iPhone,
which was used in furtherance of the offense.
According to court documents, between February 10 and
February 28, 2018, Crawford engaged in email and text communications with an
undercover agent acting as the father of a 12-year-old girl. Crawford asked the
“father” for a photo of the “child” and negotiated a price to have sex with
her. He offered to pay between $50 and $75 for the sexual encounter and asked
that the “girl” be nude in the back of the “father’s” car and ready for sexual
activity. On February 28, 2018, Crawford traveled from Port Orange to Seminole
County to meet the “child,” and was arrested by federal agents.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has
committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant
is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Ilianys Rivera Miranda.
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