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Press Release
Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Michael A. Chmielewski, 38, of Tallahassee, a former State of Florida legislative staffer, was convicted of attempted enticement of a minor this afternoon in the U.S. District Court in Tallahassee after a three-day trial. The verdict was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
In February 2017, undercover investigators conducted “Operation Cupid’s Arrow” to identify individuals seeking to engage in sexual activity with minors. Chmielewski responded to a Craigslist advertisement in which an undercover officer posed as a 14-year-old girl named “Sara.” Over two days, Chmielewski continued his conversation with “Sara” on the chat messaging application Kik, discussed sexual activity with “Sara,” and traveled to meet “Sara” in person to have sex. Chmielewski was arrested after arriving at a store to meet “Sara.”
Chmielewski faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 5, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.
The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Cocoa Police Department, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals, and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Thielemann.
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. 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 Officer
amy.alexander@usdoj.gov