Press Release
FORMER TSA SCREENER INDICTED ON CHARGES OF ENTICING A CHILD TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY
April 9, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Ken Mascara, Sheriff, St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, announced today that defendant Richard McLaughlin, Sr., of Everett, Massachusetts was arrested on charges of persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing a person under 18 to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to do so, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b). McLaughlin made his initial appearance in federal court earlier this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch, Jr. in Ft. Pierce, and was detained pending trial.
According to the Indictment and previous complaint filed in this matter, which were unsealed upon his arrest, McLaughlin, a TSA Screener formerly working at Boston's Logan Airport, entered an America Online chat room and began to correspond with an undercover police officer who was posing as the father of an eleven year old girl. During internet communications, McLaughlin repeatedly expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with the child.
If convicted, McLaughlin faces a minimum of ten years up to life in prison, followed by a minimum of five years of supervised release up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rinku Talwar.
Attachments:
Indictment (PDF)
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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