United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Eureka, California, man convicted of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity was sentenced on September 23, 2016, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.
Thomas Lee Richard, age 50, was sentenced to 293 months in custody, lifetime supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Richard was indicted on June 16, 2015, and pleaded guilty on May 26, 2016.
The conviction stems from Richard picking up a minor female in Minnesota, intending to take her to California through South Dakota, for the purpose of illegal sexual activity. The minor received help from passerby’s while stopped at the 1880 Town in Midland.
This case was investigated by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Richard was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.