Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Gadyaces S. Serralta, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Florida, announced that on July 31, 2019, Larry Cunningham, 63, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg, sitting in West Palm, to 21 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, for failing to register as a sex offender, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 2250(a) (Case No. 19CR14009).
The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA"), which was passed by Congress in 2006 as part of the Adam Walsh Act, provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States and seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs. In part, SORNA requires registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
According to the court record, including the agreed upon Factual Proffer in support of the defendant’s guilty plea, on July 15, 1988, Cunningham was convicted in the State of Delaware of First Degree Burglary, Third Degree Unlawful Sexual Intercourse and Second Degree Conspiracy. Because Cunningham was convicted of Third Degree Unlawful Sexual Intercourse, a qualifying sex offense, he was subject to SORNA's lifetime registration requirements, including that he notify authorities of any change of address. Beginning in August of 2009, Cunningham was informed of his registration obligations under SORNA and began to register as a “sex offender" in the State of Delaware. On April 19 and 20, 2016, Cunningham traveled from Delaware to Florida and failed to update his registration information. On April 16, 2016 and Aug. 24, 2016, the Delaware State Police issued an arrest warrant for Cunningham on a Sex Offender Registration Violation. From April, 20, 2016, until on or around July 2018, Cunningham lived in St Lucie County and Palm Beach County, Florida. He failed to notify Delaware or Florida authorities and failed to register as a sex offender after his move to Florida, as required. On Sept. 13, 2018, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force apprehended Cunningham, who had moved to Hendry County, Florida.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigatory efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service in this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
