A man from St. Petersburg, Florida, has been indicted on charges of attempting to entice a minor into sexual activity. The United States Attorney, Roger B. Handberg, announced the indictment of David Araujo, aged 57. If found guilty, Araujo faces a federal prison sentence ranging from a minimum of 10 years to life. He is currently detained while awaiting the outcome of his case.

The indictment alleges that between July 26 and 27, 2024, Araujo tried to persuade an individual he believed was under 18 to engage in sexual activities.

It is important to note that an indictment is a formal charge indicating alleged violations of federal criminal law. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Ocala Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Chiefland Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg will prosecute the case.

This legal action falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. This program combines resources from federal, state, and local levels to locate and prosecute offenders while rescuing victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.