Christopher Sheffer, Child Predation, Texas 2022

PLANO, Texas – In a disturbing case of child predation, 58-year-old Christopher A. Sheffer of Media, Pennsylvania was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on his guilty plea to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.

The charges stem from Sheffer’s online activities, where he privately communicated with an individual he believed had access to a prepubescent child. Over the next few months, Sheffer expressed his interest in meeting the child for sex, mailed the child gifts, and sent the child private messages. On July 10, 2020, Sheffer flew from his home in Pennsylvania to Texas, where he then rented a car and drove to a specific location to meet the child and engage in sexual acts.

Sheffer was also ordered to pay a fine of $40,000 and a $5,000 assessment pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Dallas Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and members of the Plano Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.

Additionally, 43-year-old Thomas Earl Cardwell, Jr. of Kemp, Texas was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for distributing child pornography. Cardwell had previously pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography on October 19, 2020. He had also been arrested for and convicted of online solicitation of a minor, sexual conduct in July 2019 in the 371st District Court of Tarrant County, Texas.

Cardwell was released from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in December 2019. Two months later, in February 2020, Cardwell began communicating with individuals on a social media application about his desire to perform oral sex on female children. As part of those communications, on March 6, 2020, Cardwell distributed four videos of child pornography, depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

“Crimes against children are some of the most reprehensible acts that law enforcement is determined to prevent and punish once they occur,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno. “We are thankful for the collaboration of our partners in the Dallas Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It is because of this partnership that these two individuals are now facing lengthy sentences for their crimes.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei added, “The Eastern District of Texas, along with its law enforcement partners, is committed to locating and stopping the most dangerous predators. Many of the events of these cases occurred during the height of the pandemic; however, these agents never stopped working to ensure the safety of the children in our community.”

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