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Gainesville Pharmacy Tech Gets 15 Years for Child Exploitation
JACKSONVILLE, FL – Matthew Bryan Caniff, 33, of Gainesville, will spend the next 15 years in federal prison after being convicted of horrific crimes against a child. U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis handed down the sentence today, along with a five-year term of supervised release and mandatory registration as a sex offender upon his release.
The case, stemming from a January 2017 federal jury conviction, revealed Caniff’s predatory behavior. Beginning March 31, 2016, Caniff engaged in online conversations with someone he believed was a 13-year-old. That “child” was, in reality, an undercover FBI agent. Testimony showed Caniff explicitly discussed his desire for sexual activity with the agent, sending explicit photos of himself and repeatedly requesting the “child” send images of a sexual nature.
Caniff didn’t stop at online solicitation. In the early morning hours of April 1, 2016, he drove from Gainesville to St. Johns County, intending to meet the undercover agent for sex. Deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office arrested him at the meeting location. The search of Caniff revealed a disturbing detail: a plastic bag containing prescription pills stolen from UF Health Shands Hospital, where he worked as a pharmacy technician, intended to be shared with the “child.”
“The FBI devotes extensive resources to fighting the horrific crime of child sexual exploitation,” stated Charles P. Spencer, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville division. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove predators from our communities, and bring justice upon those who seek to take advantage of vulnerable young people.” The brazen nature of Caniff’s actions – a healthcare worker abusing his position and attempting to harm a child – is particularly sickening.
This case was a joint effort, investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown prosecuted the case, securing a just outcome. The investigation highlights the crucial role of undercover operations in dismantling these networks of abuse.
The prosecution of Matthew Bryan Caniff is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. This project aims to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse by marshaling federal, state, and local resources. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc. This isn’t just about locking up predators; it’s about protecting the most vulnerable among us.
RELATED: Gainesville Pharmacy Tech Guilty of Child Luring, Porn Charges
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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