June 24, 2008
For more information contact:
Supervisory AUSA Karen Rhew
(850) 942-8430
TALLAHASSEE MAN CONVICTED OF TRAVELING, USING INTERNET TO ENTICE MINOR TO HAVE SEX
Tallahassee, Florida - Gregory R. Miller, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced today the conviction of David Duke (45 ), of Rutledge, Georgia, on one count of interstate travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of using a facility of interstate commerce to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422 and 2423.
Evidence introduced at the bench jury trial yesterday before The Honorable Robert L. Hinkle, showed that in October 2007, Duke engaged in a series of internet chats and telephone calls with an undercover Leon County Sheriff’s Office detective posing as a 13 year old girl. During the course of the chats, Duke explicitly described the sexual contact that he wanted to have with the 13 year old and made arrangements to travel to Tallahassee for this purpose. On October 4, 2007, Duke drove to a residence in Tallahassee where the undercover investigator, posing as the 13 year old, said she lived. Duke was arrested after pulling into the garage there. From inside his car, investigators recovered a loaded .357 caliber revolver and a folding knife.
Duke faces a maximum sentence of thirty years’ imprisonment for traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and a mandatory sentence of ten years’ to life imprisonment for the internet enticement offense. Sentencing is scheduled for September 4, 2008.
Mr. Miller commended the cooperative efforts of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the United States Marshal’s Service, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their commitment to the investigation and prosecution of this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.