CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix man who showed up to a sex trafficking sting with condoms and cash has been given two years in prison by a federal judge, authorities said.
Rashead Gerard, 24, of St. Croix, was given a prison term of 24 months after his conviction for attempted coercion and enticement for illegal sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C. F. Shappert said.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Wilma Lewis handed down the sentence that included five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment, Shappert said.
According to the plea agreement filed with the court, on or about August12, 2019, Gerard responded to an ad posted online.
A Homeland Security Investigations agent posed as the father of a female minor, who was looking for a tour guide to show her around for an hour or two.
Gerard asked what the minor wanted to do, and the agent replied, “anything that you’re up for.”
The agent told the defendant that the minor was 14 and the defendant told the agent he would pay for 30 minutes to engage in sexual activity with the minor.
They agreed to meet at the Fort in Frederiksted around 5:30 p.m. The defendant was arrested when he went to the
agreed-upon location and condoms and money were found in his car.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.