Florida Man Sentenced in Child Enticement Sting

Chandler Brittain Smith, a 27-year-old resident of Tallahassee, Florida, has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor and attempting to transfer obscene material to minors. The sentence was handed down by U. S.

District Judge Mark E. Walker, following a plea announcement by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The charges against Smith stem from an undercover operation conducted in November 2025 by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department. The operation, part of a broader effort to identify individuals exploiting children online, involved law enforcement officers posing as a minor on a social media platform. Over a two-day period, Smith sent multiple sexually explicit messages and an obscene photo to the undercover investigator, believing them to be a child.

On November 10, 2025, Smith traveled to a pre-determined meeting location with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with the child. He was arrested at the scene. Following his prison term, Smith will be required to register as a sexual offender.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt and was part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 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.

U.S. Attorney Heekin emphasized the importance of parental vigilance in monitoring children's online activities to protect them from potential exploitation. "This case is a terrifying reminder of the countless ways that sexual predators can reach our kids online," Heekin said, highlighting the commitment of law enforcement to pursue and prosecute such predators.

Homeland Security Investigations Tampa Acting Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno reiterated the resolve of law enforcement agencies to combat online child exploitation. "Predators who target children online are not anonymous, untouchable, or beyond the reach of law enforcement," Ingegno stated, assuring that those who exploit minors will be held accountable.

The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to address the growing threats facing children in digital spaces and to ensure that those who exploit minors are brought to justice.