Man pleads guilty to enticing minors on computer for sex

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 6, 2004

A Shelby County man plead guilty in federal court to using the Internet to solicit girls under the age of 18 to meet him for illegal sexual acts.

Michael Lamont Crockett, 32, was charged last week with enticing and attempting to entice three different girls to meet for sex, according to U.S. Attorney Alice Martin.

Crockett solicited his victims using his computer and Internet service provider between August and December 2003, when he was arrested by federal agents.

&uot;Two of the victims were young girls and the third victim was an undercover agent on our Innocent Images Task Force,&uot; Martin said.

The U.S. Attorney gave a warning to other child predators thinking of using the Internet as an outlet to meet minors.

&uot;Child predators are warned that we, in law enforcement, are working tirelessly to ensure your Internet meeting is with someone carrying a badge and handcuffs,&uot; Martin said.

Crockett could face between five and 90 years in prison, up to $750,000 in fines and lifetime court supervision. U.S. District Judge David Proctor will sentence Crockett at a later date.

Crockett was arrested in December for trying to meet for sex what he expected to be a 14-year-old girl.

Instead, he met an undercover agent who posed as the girl on the Internet, according to U.S. Attorney James Phillips, who prosecuted the case.

&uot;He showed up to meet her and was arrested,&uot; Phillips said.

Special agents of the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department and the Birmingham Police Department investigated the case.