David Araujo, Child Exploitation, Florida 2025

A 27-year sentence for a shocking crime in Pinellas County.

David Araujo, a 57-year-old man from St. Petersburg, has been sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in federal prison for his role in producing child sexual abuse material and attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Araujo entered a guilty plea on July 23, 2025, after being arrested in July 2024 for his involvement in a Marion County operation. An undercover officer from the Ocala Police Department posed online as a 14-year-old prostitute, and Araujo messaged the undercover officer, despite knowing the officer’s age.

Araujo engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the undercover officer, during which he described a prior relationship he had with another minor. He was arrested when he drove from St. Petersburg to Marion County to meet with the undercover officer.

A search of Araujo’s cellphone revealed that he had produced child sexual abuse material with the previous minor victim on September 25, 2023. The case was investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children.

Araujo’s sentence is a reminder of the severity of child exploitation crimes and the importance of vigilance in protecting our children. As our community continues to grow and evolve, it’s essential that we remain committed to preventing these heinous crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.

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