A former pharmacy technician from Gainesville, Florida, has been charged with attempting to entice a minor online and child pornography offenses. Matthew Bryan Caniff, 33, was indicted on charges of attempted online enticement of a minor, advertising for child pornography, and attempted production of child pornography.
If convicted, he faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison on the attempted enticement charge. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in prison for each of the enticement, advertising, and attempted production charges.
According to court documents, between March 31 and April 1, 2016, Caniff engaged in a series of online text conversations with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old child. This ‘child’ was actually an undercover FBI agent. During the course of these conversations, Caniff discussed in graphic detail his desire to have sex with the ‘child’ at ‘her’ home. He also sent several explicit photos of himself to the ‘child,’ and told ‘her’ that he would bring prescription drugs with him to share with ‘her.’
During the early morning hours on April 1, 2016, Caniff drove from Gainesville to a home in St. Johns County to meet the ‘child’ for sex. He was arrested by deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and several prescription pills were found in his possession.
This case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This case is another example of the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Jacksonville U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to combating this problem and protecting our children. We will continue to work tirelessly to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc
Matthew Bryan Caniff, 33, is charged with attempted online enticement of a minor, advertising for child pornography, and attempted production of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison on the attempted enticement charge.
Related Federal Cases
- Matthew Bryan Caniff, Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor, Florida 2024 · Florida
- Jonathan S. Bergeron, Child Enticement, Florida 2014 · Florida
- Frank Earle Noyes III, Child Pornography Production and Enticement, Florida 2016 · Florida
- Matthew Allen Hayes, Child Pornography Advertising, Florida 2024 · Florida
- Billy Leon Dyer, Production of Child Pornography and Attempted Enticement of a Minor, Florida 2016 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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