A Pinellas County man has been indicted for allegedly attempting to entice a minor into engaging in sexual activity. United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that David Araujo, 57, from St. Petersburg, faces charges related to this accusation. If found guilty, Araujo could receive a minimum sentence of ten years and potentially face life imprisonment in federal prison. He is currently detained as the case progresses.
The indictment states that between July 26 and 27, 2024, Araujo tried to persuade an individual he believed to be under the age of 18 to engage in sexual acts.
It is important to note that an indictment is a formal charge indicating that a defendant has allegedly violated federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Chiefland Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg will prosecute the case.
This legal action is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006. The project aims to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse by utilizing federal, state, and local resources to apprehend offenders and rescue victims. Further information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.