Lake Mary Man Sentenced To More Than Seventeen Years For Attempting To Entice A Minor Into Illicit Sexual Conduct

Orlando, Florida – United States District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Dennis Michael Wilkerson (40, Lake Mary) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for attempting to persuade, induce, and entice a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Wilkerson was convicted by a federal jury on April 16, 2015.

According to evidence presented during the trial, on October 22, 2014, an FBI Task Force Officer, working in an undercover capacity, posted an advertisement on Craigslist.  Wilkerson responded by e-mail, inquiring about sexual activity with a 12-year-old “girl.”  After a series of communications with the undercover officer, Wilkerson agreed to pay $50 to receive oral sex from the “girl.” A few days later, Wilkerson traveled to Seminole County to meet with the minor. He was subsequently arrested. Agents recovered $53 from Wilkerson’s pocket after his arrest. He acknowledged that the money was to be used as payment for sex.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilianys Rivera Miranda.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.