Tallahassee Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Michael A. Chmielewski, 38, of Tallahassee, a former State of Florida legislative staffer, was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison after being convicted on September 29, 2017, of attempted enticement of a minor.  The sentence 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.”

U.S. Attorney Canova said: “Together with our law enforcement partners, my office will prosecute to the fullest extent any child predators who lurk in the shadows of the internet seeking to destroy the lives of innocent young children.”

“When this man thought he was going to sexually assault a minor, law enforcement stopped him in his tracks,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.  “Working with our law enforcement partners in the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, HSI special agents have ensured this predator is held accountable for his crimes.”

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.