U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Todd Stafford, 60, of Bailey’s Harbor, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 156 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after being convicted of coercion and enticement of a minor and two counts of travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
“Mr. Stafford preyed on minors and today he was held accountable for his predatory actions,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Let this be a clear message to those who seek to exploit our children and think they can hide. Protecting our most vulnerable is, and will continue to be, a top priority for our office.”
Stafford was convicted at a jury trial. The jury heard evidence that Stafford met the minor victim, who was under sixteen years of age, online. Stafford twice traveled from Wisconsin to Michigan hoping to have sex with the minor. Eventually the minor’s father found conversations and contacted law enforcement. The minor’s father and Iron Mountain Police Department took over communications with Stafford, posing as the minor and arranging to meet Stafford again. In late July 2023, Stafford again traveled to Michigan where law enforcement met and arrested him.
“Today’s sentencing of Mr. Stafford is a direct result of the hard work of the men and women of the FBI Detroit Field Office’s Marquette Resident Agent, the Iron Mountain Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Any criminal act and/or its attempt, especially involving minors, will not be tolerated and the FBI will investigate and arrest anyone who engages in this illegal behavior.”
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following website: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Iron Mountain Police Department.
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