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Press Release

Tallahassee Man Convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Dayton Michael Cramer, 71, of Tallahassee, 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.

During February 2017, undercover investigators conducted “Operation Cupid’s Arrow” to identify individuals seeking to engage in sexual activity with minors they meet online.  Cramer responded to two Craigslist advertisements in which an undercover officer posed as a 14-year-old girl and also as the stepmother of a 13-year-old girl who was being offered for sex.  Over the course of several days, Cramer discussed sexual activity with various undercover officers and traveled to meet who he thought was the stepmother of the 13-year-old girl to discuss the opportunity to have sex with the girl at a later date.  Cramer was arrested after arriving at the designated meeting location.

Cramer faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.  The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 5, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee.

United States Attorney Christopher P. Canova stated, “The North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force once again demonstrates why undercover online operations targeting those individuals who want to engage in sexual activity with minors are so crucial to the protection of our children and local community from online predators.”

“It is disheartening that a man in a position of such power and influence would try to sexually abuse a young child,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.  “This verdict highlights the important work of HSI special agents, and the multi-agency North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, in the investigation and prosecution of such heinous crimes.”

“It does not matter who you are, if you prey on our children, you will be arrested,” said FDLE Tallahassee Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez.  “These cases continue to be a priority for FDLE.”

The case was investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, 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.

Contact

For more information, contact:
Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer
amy.alexander@usdoj.gov

Updated March 21, 2018

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Project Safe Childhood