Richard Alan Spivey, also known as “Rick,” age 62 and a resident of Tallahassee, has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of distributing and receiving child pornography. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “I deeply appreciate the incredible work of our law enforcement partners to stop this sexual predator from continuing to victimize and exploit children. My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting these sick individuals to the fullest extent to keep our communities and our children safe.”
According to court documents, the Tallahassee Police Department received a Cybertip report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in July 2024. The report alleged that Spivey uploaded child pornography to a social media platform as part of chat messages sent to another user. Further investigation revealed that Spivey was already a registered sexual predator due to previous convictions related to sex crimes.
Law enforcement officials obtained search warrants for Spivey’s social media account and cell phone. The search uncovered communications between Spivey and others, during which he both received and distributed videos containing child pornography.
Because of his prior convictions involving sexual abuse or conduct with minors, Spivey faces a mandatory sentence ranging from fifteen to forty years in prison, along with lifetime supervision after release.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 2, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 that coordinates federal, state, and local resources against child exploitation crimes online. 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 principal litigating offices under the direction of the Attorney General. Additional public court documents are available on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website, while more information about this office can be accessed at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
