Justin William Gifford, a 26-year-old resident of Enterprise, Alabama, has been indicted in federal court on charges related to alleged illicit sexual conduct involving a minor. The indictment includes one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to minors, and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Gifford is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick on August 19, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted on these charges, Gifford could face up to life imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Panama City Beach Police Department, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Eric K Mountin is prosecuting the case.
“An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial,” according to the press release.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 that coordinates federal, state, and local resources to address child sexual exploitation and abuse online. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is among 94 offices serving as principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. Public court documents can be accessed through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. Further details about this office are available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
