Darick McPherson, Transportation with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity, Georgia 2023
South Carolina Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking
A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for picking up a runaway 12-year-old girl and taking her across state lines for sex.
Darick McPherson, 20, of Ridgeland, S.C., pled guilty to Transportation with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore to 120 months in prison and to pay restitution of $29,775.50, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. McPherson also will be required to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.
The crime occurred on December 19, 2017, when police in Ridgeland, S.C., discovered McPherson with the victim after complaints of a domestic disturbance. The investigation determined that McPherson had picked up the 12-year-old from her Savannah home after her guardian left for work and drove her to South Carolina.
“This was no ‘Romeo and Juliet’ romantic fantasy,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “This is an adult predator who groomed a 12-year-old from a troubled home and enticed her to sneak away in the dead of night for his own sick gratification. The young victim will now have an opportunity to mature without his malignant influence.”
“It is clear from this sentencing that McPherson’s actions will not be tolerated by our justice system,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Our warning to predators is that the FBI is determined to go to great lengths to protect our most vulnerable citizens from those who seek to manipulate and do them harm.”
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The case was investigated by the FBI, with the Allendale, S.C., and Ridgeland, S.C., Police Departments and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania D. Groover.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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