Gary Linder, Jr., a TSA employee, was sentenced in federal court on Friday to fifteen years in prison for enticing a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity and attempting to produce child pornography. 

Ariana Fajardo Orshan, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Thomas J. Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and W. Howard Harrison, Chief, Plantation Police Department, made the announcement.

Gary Linder, Jr., 27, of Fort Lauderdale, was charged with attempted production of child pornography and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity in violation of, Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and 2422(b).  Linder pled guilty to both charges on July 26, 2018.  U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom sentenced Linder to fifteen years’ imprisonment, followed by fifteen years of supervised release.

According to court records, in February 2018, Linder initially began communicating with an eleven-year old female child via text message.  The child’s telephone was turned over to law enforcement.   Over the course of the next several months, Linder discussed sexually explicit content with the individual he believed to be the minor child via text message.  On several occasions, Linder requested nude photos of the minor child engaged in sex acts. 

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, including the FBI Miami Child Exploitation Task Force, and the Plantation Police Department.  U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan also thanked the Coral Springs Police Department and Miramar Police Department for their assistance.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi L. Anton.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.