On February 28th, police arrested Richard “Rick” Hoyt Crawford Jr. for the solicitation of a minor for sexual acts. On March 7th, a jury indicted the former NASCAR Truck Series driver.
Over the course of 18 days, Crawford corresponded with “the father” of a 12year-old girl via email and text. Unbeknownst to Crawford, the father was actually an undercover Seminole County sheriff’s deputy, who was a member of the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force.
During the communication, Crawford requested a picture of the child and negotiated prices for sexual services. Offering between $50 and $75, he also requested the girl be nude in the back of the father’s vehicle, ready for immediate intercourse.
Set for February 28th, the meeting was to occur in a Wendy’s parking lot. Crawford traveled 45 miles, traveling to Lake Mary from Port Orange. He claimed to know nothing of the girl’s age, and denied his involvement with anything illegal.
The indictment required Crawford to forfeit his iPhone, which will serve as evidence of the crime. Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera Miranda will serve as the prosecutor for the case. Sentences for this crime range from a minimum of 10 years in prison to a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Crawford won a total of 5 NASCAR races during his NASCAR truck series career. After his arrest, his professional associates immediately severed all associations with Crawford. If you would like to learn more about this case, click here.
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