Roger B. Handberg, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida
Rickey Lee Miller, Jr., a 45-year-old resident of Ocala, Florida, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber after Miller pleaded guilty on September 6, 2024, to attempting to entice a minor into sexual activity.
Court documents reveal that on July 27, 2024, a detective from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed as a 15-year-old girl on an online messaging platform. Miller initiated contact with the undercover account and engaged in sexually explicit conversation. He proposed meeting for "some fun" with the supposed minor and another female friend. He also asked if she could pretend to be 18 years old. Upon arriving at the agreed location with his friend to meet the minor for sex, Miller was arrested by law enforcement officers who confirmed that his cellphone had been used for communication with the undercover detective.
David Pezzutti, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando stated: “Attempting to entice a minor into harmful activity is a serious crime, and this prosecution underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.” He emphasized collaboration with local law enforcement agencies including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and others involved in holding offenders accountable.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Chiefland Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg prosecuted the case.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordination among federal, state, and local resources.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit www.justice.gov/psc.
