Raymond Carter, 73, of Rancho Cordova, Calif., is headed to federal prison for 80 months after pleading guilty to traveling into Washington, D.C., to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, marks the latest chapter in a decades-long pattern of predatory behavior by Carter, law enforcement officials say.
Carter began exchanging text messages on May 6, 2016, with an undercover FBI agent posing as someone with access to a juvenile. Within days, he made his intentions clear: he was traveling from California to Washington, D.C., to meet and engage in illegal sexual acts. He arrived at a pre-arranged location on May 10, 2016 — and was arrested on the spot by agents from the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to court evidence, Carter didn’t hide his criminal past. During the text exchanges, he openly referenced a prior federal conviction for child exploitation — a 2005 case out of the Eastern District of California, where he was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender. His return to criminal behavior underscores the persistent threat posed by repeat offenders targeting minors.
Following his 80-month prison term, Carter will face 10 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender for 25 years upon release. Authorities emphasized that the sentence reflects the severity of his actions and the importance of holding predators accountable, especially those who cross state lines to exploit children.
The case was prosecuted under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in February 2006 to combat online child exploitation. Led by U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, with support from FBI Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate and MPD Interim Chief Peter Newsham, the operation highlights the coordinated federal and local efforts to dismantle networks of child predators.
U.S. Attorney Phillips, Abbate, and Newsham praised the relentless work of FBI special agents and MPD detectives assigned to the Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea L. Hertzfeld, who prosecuted the case, was also commended for securing a conviction that delivers a measure of justice — and sends a message: predators like Raymond Carter will be hunted, caught, and punished.
RELATED: Baltimore Man Pays $1M for Slashing Firehose During 2015 Riots
Related Federal Cases
- Child Pornography Ring Busted: 8 Indicted for Exploiting Minors · Washington
- Cross-State Predator: Trafficker Faces Decades Behind Bars · Washington
- Faye Hsin-I Ku Sentenced in Child Kidnap to Mexico · Washington
- Tyrell L. Moss Indicted in Interstate Child Sex Trafficking Case · Washington
- Capitol Breach: LA Man Gets Convicted · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes