Joint police effort busts Tampa man trying to entice minor online for sex

On August 28, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced that 37-year-old Richard Plummer of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for the attempted enticement of a minor. Plummer had pleaded guilty to that charge back on May 25.

According to court documents, in March 2018, Plummer exchanged over 160 text messages with an individual whom he believed to be a 14-year-old boy. During those conversations, Plummer attempted to induce that child to meet him for a casual sexual encounter. Plummer also sent the child explicit photographs and video of himself.

The 14-year-old boy, in reality, was an undercover officer from the Tampa Police Department. Officers arrested Plummer after he showed up to a residence to have sex with the child.

This case was jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. Upon his release from prison, Plummer must register as a sex offender and must also serve 25 years of supervised release.

This represents another case brought forth as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Also see: Broward County teacher arrested for performing oral sex on one of his students

Source:  U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida

~ Written by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter