Thomas Monroe Lee, Attempted Online Enticement, Alabama 2024

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Florida Man Sentenced to Life for Attempted Online Enticement

A 40-year-old Alabama man has been found guilty of using the Internet to attempt to persuade, induce, and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity while on vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Thomas Monroe Lee, of Gadsden, Alabama, was convicted after a three-day trial in federal court. The evidence presented during the trial showed that Lee had posted an advertisement on Craigslist, entitled “Last call!!!! – m4m – 1840 (PCB/Laguna beach),” which was responded to by law enforcement officers posing as a 14-year-old boy named Skylar.

Over the next 48 hours, Lee engaged in email chats and text messages with Skylar that were sexual in nature. He then drove to a location where he had arranged to meet Skylar and transport him back to his residence to engage in sexual activity. However, once Lee arrived at the location, officers from various law enforcement agencies arrested him for attempted online enticement of a child.

As a result of the guilty verdict, Lee faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, not less than five years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special monetary assessment.

The success of this prosecution was credited to the joint efforts of the agencies participating in the North Florida ICAC, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Marshals Service, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gainesville Police Department.

Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, praised the efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved in the case, stating that the safety and well-being of children is a top priority for the government. She added that her office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to protect the community and children, who are the most innocent victims.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the government in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn Risinger.

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