Alburgh Predator Sheltra Gets 15 Years for Exploiting Children

BURLINGTON, VT – Randy Sheltra, 59, of Alburgh, Vermont, will spend the next 15 years behind bars after being convicted of sickening crimes against children. Sheltra was sentenced in U.S. District Court on November 23, 2021, following a six-day jury trial that laid bare his predatory behavior.

The Vermont man was found guilty on two counts of attempting to persuade, induce, and entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, and one count of attempted receipt of child pornography. Judge Christina Reiss didn’t stop there, tacking on a 30-year term of supervised release and a $300 special assessment. The sentence reflects the severity of Sheltra’s actions and the lasting harm he attempted to inflict.

The investigation began September 7, 2017, when Sheltra started communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer, believing she was the mother of a 10-year-old girl. He’d posted on Craigslist, seeking to exploit a vulnerable child. Over the next three days, Sheltra aggressively attempted to convince the undercover officer to allow him to engage in sexual activity with her supposed daughter. His depravity culminated in an attempted meeting on September 10, 2017, at a South Burlington park, where he was promptly arrested.

But the 10-year-old wasn’t Sheltra’s only target. A search of his cell phone revealed communications from August 2017, proving he’d already met with a 15-year-old Vermont girl for sexual activity. He’d also demanded explicit photographs from her, further demonstrating the extent of his exploitation. Judge Reiss specifically found that Sheltra obstructed justice by providing false testimony at trial, and designated him a “repeat and dangerous” sex offender.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt praised the collaborative effort of Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, highlighting their dedication to bringing predators like Sheltra to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara A. Masterson and Andrew C. Gilman skillfully prosecuted the case, while Sheltra was represented by Mark Kaplan of Kaplan & Kaplan.

This case was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The Department of Justice program brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute offenders, and to rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc. This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fight against those who prey on the innocent.