Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Transportation of a Muscatine Minor for Illicit Sexual Purposes

DAVENPORT, IA—On February 28, 2011, Justin David Carter, 27, of Jacksonville, Florida, pled guilty in federal court in Davenport to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt.

According to the written plea agreement, Carter traveled from Jacksonville, Florida to Muscatine, Iowa to meet a 12-year-old girl. Carter had previously communicated with her through a “chat room” in an online dating site. The girl then traveled with Carter to Florida. On the return trip to Florida, Carter checked into a Motel 6 in Mount Vernon, Illinois, where the two stayed together overnight. Carter provided alcohol to the minor and engaged in sexual contact and intercourse, which was a crime in the state of Illinois because of the minor’s age. The following day, Carter continued with the girl to Florida. On or about June 6, 2010, they arrived in Jacksonville, where FBI agents located Carter and questioned him. Eventually, Carter directed agents to a park where they found the girl in a tent.

Carter entered his guilty plea in a proceeding before Chief United States Magistrate Thomas J. Shields. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 8, 2011, at 10:30 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Davenport before United States District Judge John A. Jarvey. Carter faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years in federal prison, and a maximum sentence of life, along with a maximum fine of $250,000. Carter will remain in custody pending imposition of sentence.

United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt commended the efforts of the Muscatine Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who worked quickly and effectively together when the minor was reported missing. “This case demonstrates the strong commitment of law enforcement agencies to work together to protect our children,” said Mr. Klinefeldt. “My office will continue to aggressively prosecute cases within our jurisdiction involving the exploitation of children, including cases where child predators use the Internet to pursue their victims.”

Weysan Dun, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Nebraska and Iowa, stated, "The crime Justin Carter committed is unconscionable. While we can't erase the harm done by this horrible act, the FBI will continue to ensure the children of these crimes are protected and the subjects are brought to justice."

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. The case was investigated by the Muscatine (Iowa) Police Department; the Jacksonville (Florida) Sheriff’s Office; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.