⏱ 3 min read
Shawn Grunther, 42, thought he’d found an easy mark in a 14-year-old Ocala girl he lured online. But instead, he got caught by Homeland Security agents who posed as the underage girl. Grunther’s attempt to meet the minor for sex ended with his arrest on July 24, 2025, in Marion County.
According to court documents, Grunther engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the undercover agent, even after learning the minor’s age. He traveled to a location in Marion County to meet the UC, but was instead apprehended by law enforcement.
Grunther pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025, to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber handed down a 10-year sentence, as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg handling the prosecution.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Florida
- Location: US
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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