Man Convicted of Attempted Online Enticement for a Minor and Traveling from Alabama to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA – Following a two-day trial, Jeffrey Monroe Roy (48), of Mobile, Alabama, was found guilty of using the Internet in an attempt to persuade, induce, and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and of traveling from Mobile, Alabama, to Panama City, Florida, with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with a 13 year old female.

Evidence presented during trial proved that on June 13, 2012, law enforcement officers, acting in an undercover capacity posted an advertisement on Craigslist posing as a 13 year old female.  Roy responded to the posting, and over the next three days, Roy engaged in email chats and telephone calls that were sexual in nature with a person who the defendant believed to be a 13 year old female named Jaz. During his communications with Jaz, Roy discussed numerous sexual situations and attempted to entice the 13 year old female to engage in sexual activity with him. After making arrangements to meet the 13 year old female, Roy drove from Mobile, Alabama on June 16, 2012 to meet with 13 year old Jaz at a predetermined location, where he was arrested and found to be in possession of Viagra, condoms, a camera, a knife, handcuffs, a first aid kit, and a deck of 52 sex position cards.

As a result of the guilty verdict, Roy faces a sentence of ten years to life in prison on Count One of the Indictment, attempted online enticement of a minor, and a sentence of up to thirty years in prison on Count Two of the Indictment, traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Roy also faces a fine of up to $250,000, not less than five years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment on both counts. Sentencing is set for November 20, 2013 at 10 a.m.

In announcing the verdict, Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, credited the success of this prosecution to the joint efforts of the agencies participating in the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gainesville Police Department.  Ms. Marsh said, “The safety and well-being of our children is a top priority for the Department of Justice.  Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to protect the community and children, who are our most innocent victims.  Great praise is deserved by all of our law enforcement partners who contributed to the success of this investigation.”

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

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn Risinger.