Elton Ray Jones Found Guilty of Attempting to Entice a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

LAFAYETTE, La. – In a shocking turn of events, a federal jury found Elton Ray Jones, 67, of Zavalla, Texas, guilty of attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday after a two-day trial.

The jury deliberated for just one hour before reaching their decision. According to testimony, Jones made contact and conducted online chats with a law enforcement officer posing as a 14-year-old girl from September 11, 2012 to October 17, 2012. Jones engaged in explicit conversations with the girl and planned a sexual encounter. Law enforcement officers arrested Jones on October 17, 2012 in Lafayette where Jones had planned to meet the girl.

Jones faces 10 years to life in prison, five years to life of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for one count of attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. He must also register as a sex offender.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the Criminal Division’s 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 U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp. Tips may be submitted anonymously.

The Louisiana State Police and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Myers P. Namie and John Luke Walker are prosecuting the case.

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