Florida Man Sentenced for Attempted Child Exploitation

Raymond Lewis Shiver, a 36-year-old resident of Crawfordville, Florida, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. Following his prison term, Shiver will also serve 15 years of supervised release. The sentencing was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Shiver was found guilty by a federal jury after an undercover operation conducted in April 2025 by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The operation aimed to identify individuals attempting to exploit children online. As part of the operation, law enforcement officials posted fictitious ads on websites commonly used for prostitution.

Shiver responded to one of these ads and engaged in text messaging with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old child. During these exchanges, Shiver expressed interest in engaging in sexual activity with the child in exchange for money.

Shiver traveled to meet the purported child and was arrested by law enforcement officers. A subsequent search of his phone confirmed that he had been communicating with the undercover officer through text messages and phone calls.

The case was a collaborative effort involving the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo prosecuted the case.

The operation was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative 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.

U.S. Attorney Heekin emphasized the importance of such operations, stating, "Our excellent state and federal law enforcement partners are relentless in their efforts to keep our kids safe by catching predators, like this defendant, before they can succeed in sexually exploiting and victimizing children online."

Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell highlighted the significance of proactive investigations and strong partnerships in preventing child exploitation. "Behind this operation were investigators who worked carefully and deliberately to identify dangerous behavior before a child could become a victim," Revell said.

Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Acting Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno also commented on the case, stating, "Predators who use the internet to target and sexually exploit children will face the full force of the law. Those who believe anonymity online, a screen, or a cellphone will shield them from accountability are sorely mistaken."

The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to protect children from online predators and hold offenders accountable for their actions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida remains committed to aggressively prosecuting such cases to ensure the safety of children in the community.