Amontea Allen John Mitchell, 28, of Tallahassee, pleaded guilty on Aug. 5 to attempted enticement of a minor, attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in federal court. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “I deeply appreciate the continued vigilance of our state and federal law enforcement partners to stay one step ahead of the sexual predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize kids online. Aggressively prosecuting these sick individuals and ensuring they remain locked away in prison is the best way we can ensure our kids stay safe.”
According to court documents, an undercover operation took place in April involving the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tallahassee Police Department. Mitchell responded to an online advertisement for a female escort and began communicating with an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old girl. After being told he was speaking with a minor, Mitchell sent an obscene photograph and requested child pornography from her before expressing interest in sex with the child. Law enforcement arrested him near an arranged meeting location where agents found three condoms and a firearm in his backpack. Mitchell has multiple prior felony convictions prohibiting him from possessing firearms.
Mitchell faces mandatory minimum sentencing of ten years up to life imprisonment for attempted enticement; up to ten years for attempted transfer of obscene material; and up to fifteen years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Sentencing is scheduled for September 17 at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Judge Mark E. Walker.
The case involved cooperation among Homeland Security Investigations, Tallahassee Police Department, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, with Assistant United States Attorney Emma Schwan prosecuting.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through collaboration between federal prosecutors’ offices such as that led by U.S. Attorney Heekin—which covers twenty-three counties including Tallahassee—and local agencies, according to the official website.