Pensacola Man Indicted for Child Exploitation Crimes (Grafton)

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Pensacola resident Robert M. Grafton Jr., 29, with attempted enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography.  The indictment was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The indictment alleges that, in May 2015, Grafton knowingly attempted to entice an individual less than 18 years of age to engage in sexual activity, and that he possessed sexualized images and videos involving minors less than 12 years of age.

Grafton originally appeared in federal court last month upon being arrested on a federal criminal complaint.  He will be arraigned on the indictment at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, and is being held in federal custody at the Santa Rosa County Jail, pending further proceedings.

The case is being investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Pensacola Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and other agencies that are part of the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  The office strives to protect and serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States, to defend the national security, to improve the safety and quality of life in our communities through the protection of civil rights, and to protect the public funds and financial assets of the United States.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Office
(850) 216-3854, Amy.Alexander@usdoj.gov