A federal jury in Lexington convicted Larry Coffman, a resident of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, of sex trafficking involving children. The verdict came after a concise deliberation of 45 minutes following a two-day trial. Coffman, aged 42, was found guilty on two counts of child sex trafficking and for committing a crime involving a minor while on the sex offender registry.
Testimonies presented during the trial revealed that, in February 2023, Coffman engaged in recruiting and enticing two minors into a sexual act, offering something of value in return. Coffman's previous conviction for a similar offense required him to register as a sex offender at the time of these offenses.
The conviction announcement was made jointly by Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Scott Elder of the Harrodsburg Police Department; and Sheriff Mike Coyle of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation was conducted collaboratively by HSI, the Harrodsburg Police Department, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth represented the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the court proceedings.
Coffman's sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2025. He faces a prison sentence ranging from 25 years to life. The final sentence will reflect the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant federal laws.
This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative started in 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program, led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), coordinates various resources to apprehend and prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.