By Jerry Jordan, Editor
After being found guilty earlier this year of charges of attempted enticement of a child, where former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, Rick Crawford, tried to arrange sex with what he thought was a 12-year-old girl, he has been sentenced to federal prison for 130 months, according to court record filed Monday.
Kickin’ the Tires was the first to report that Crawford was arrested February 28 after extended electronic communications to meet with a supposed father and his notional 12-year-old daughter being offered for sexual favors in exchange for money. According to evidence presented in court, Crawford and the undercover agent discussed exchanging money and over the course of two weeks, worked out arrangements to meet in a Lake Mary, Fl. Wendy’s parking lot so Crawford could have sex with the notional child. At the meeting Crawford asked if the underage girl was ready for him and as he was trying to exit his truck, he was taken into custody by law enforcement.
Now, Crawford must serve 130 months in prison, pay a $5,000 fine, register as a sex offender for life, submit to mandatory drug testing, provide his DNA to authorities, participate in a mental health treatment program for sex offender, have no direct contact with minors, have restrictions on media and computer usage and provide his financial information to probation officials upon his release from prison. He was also order to surrender his iPhone used in contacting the undercover agent.
John Steven McElyea, the undercover agent with the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force who was actually texting with Crawford, testified Crawford responded to a taboo sex ad on Craigslist. After some discussion Crawford sent him a photograph of his penis and a message stating, “Let’s do it. Clean fit 6 ft 180 BWC (BWC refers to Crawford’s genitals).” At that point in the exchange, McElyea sent a follow-up message to Crawford making it clear that he was offering his notional 12-year-old daughter for sex, in exchange for money and providing he could watch.
- McElyea wrote to Crawford: “FYI 50yo taboo dad(,) w 12yo daughter(,) shes into guys…im not(,) shes also accepts donations(,) if this isn’t you then to no need to reply(,) NO RP (No Role Play) here.”
- Crawford replied, “Lets do it. Let me know where.”
Crawford faced a minimum of 10 years in federal prison after being convicted under federal statute 18 U.S.C. 2422 (b), “Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.”