Matthew Warren Burkhard, Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor, Kentucky 2024

Bowling Green, KY – Matthew Warren Burkhard, a 36-year-old man from Tompkinsville, Kentucky, was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for attempted online enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, Burkhard was found guilty of one count of attempted online enticement of a minor. He communicated with an undercover law enforcement agent he believed to be a 14-year-old female, and during those communications, he knowingly attempted to entice the minor to engage in criminal sexual activity by exchanging sexually explicit images and making plans to meet in person for sexual contact.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations in Bowling Green. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Nicholas Rabold prosecuted the case.

Burkhard's sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the United States Secret Service, and Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville.

“I commend the work of AUSA Rabold during the prosecution of this case as well as the outstanding investigative effort by the Secret Service and HSI,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “Removing would-be predators from our communities is key to keeping them safe for our most vulnerable citizens.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. There is no parole in the federal system.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdky/pr/tompkinsville-man-sentenced-over-12-years-federal-prison-attempted-online-enticement