Chandler Brittain Smith, 27, of Tallahassee, Florida, was indicted on April 8 on one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to minors. The charges were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Smith appeared for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee. His jury trial is set for May 26 before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
If convicted, Smith faces a minimum sentence of ten years in prison and up to life imprisonment for the attempted enticement charge. The second charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years’ imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.
Officials emphasized that an indictment is only an allegation and not evidence of guilt: all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida serves as one of 94 offices nationwide under direction from the Attorney General.
