Musician Sentenced to Prison for Enticement of a Minor

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Ryan David Burd, 29, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for inducing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.  The sentence, imposed on December 3, 2014, was announced by Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

In February 2014, parents of the minor victim contacted law enforcement to report Burd=s inappropriate sexual advances to their 14-year-old daughter.  Burd, a drummer for the Dallas Brass musical ensemble, had met the girl during a fundraising concert in Gainesville where Dallas Brass had performed and led a music clinic for high school and middle school students. They gave consent for investigators to access their daughter’s Facebook account and her phone.  A few days later, Burd messaged the girl’s cell phone and made arrangements to have sex with her at her home.  When he arrived at her house, he was arrested.

The defendant pled guilty earlier this year to one count of knowingly attempting to persuade, induce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.

The investigation was led by agencies with the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.  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 Attorneys= 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 to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc