Key West Predator Gets 10 Years for Targeting 13-Year-Old

KEY WEST, FL – Clifford Frederic Lind, 41, is headed to federal prison for a decade after attempting to prey on a child he met online. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles, reflects the gravity of Lind’s actions and sends a message that such predatory behavior will not be tolerated, especially in a tourist haven like Key West.

Lind, who operated under the online alias “it is what it is,” pleaded guilty in April to attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor and attempting to entice said minor. The investigation, led by FBI Miami’s Key West Resident Agency with crucial assistance from the Key West Police Department, revealed a disturbing pattern of communication between Lind and an individual he *believed* to be a 13-year-old girl. Between May 29th and June 4th, 2024, Lind engaged in explicit online exchanges, sending sexually suggestive images and videos of himself and demanding the same in return.

But the digital depravity didn’t stop there. Court documents detail how Lind didn’t just stop at online communication; he actively planned an in-person meeting with the supposed 13-year-old, outlining plans to pick her up and even discussing where they would stay. This wasn’t idle chat – it was a calculated attempt to groom and exploit a vulnerable child. The FBI’s undercover work quickly revealed the true nature of Lind’s intentions, preventing a potentially horrific situation.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami jointly announced the sentencing. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting children from online predators,” Quiñones stated. “We will continue to relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit and endanger our youth.” Skiles added that the successful outcome was a direct result of the strong partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Maultasch and Sara Klco were instrumental in securing the conviction and will oversee any asset forfeiture proceedings related to the case. The 120-month sentence – ten years – is a significant blow against online child exploitation and a victory for the FBI and the Key West Police Department. The case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006, aimed at combating the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online. Anyone with information regarding child sexual exploitation or abuse is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Further details about this case can be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida website at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl and court documents at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov (case number 24-cr-10008).

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