A federal jury has convicted Stevenson Metelus, a 36-year-old man from Margate, Florida, of attempting to coerce a minor for sex in an undercover investigation conducted in Missoula. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced the verdict following a three-day trial that commenced on February 10. The jury found Metelus guilty of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison, along with potential fines and supervised release.
The trial was presided over by U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, who will determine the sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Sentencing is scheduled for June 24, and Metelus has been released pending further proceedings.
According to U.S. Attorney Laslovich, "Metelus was a truck driver passing through Montana when he used social media to attempt to coerce a minor to have sex with him." Laslovich emphasized the importance of such operations in safeguarding children: "This is the kind of critical work our office and our law enforcement partners are doing across the state to keep kids safe."
The case against Metelus involved an FBI special agent posing as "Child 1" on MegaPersonals with an advertisement for prostitution services in Missoula. Metelus responded to this ad on November 16, 2023, negotiating terms for sexual acts despite being informed that Child 1 was a minor. Law enforcement arrested him at a gas station where he had arranged to meet Child 1.
The investigation was carried out by the FBI's Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, Missoula Police Department, and Missoula County Sheriff's Office. The case forms part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, individuals are encouraged to visit Justice.gov/PSC.