JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Investigators intercepted a Georgia man who traveled by bus to Jacksonville to meet a minor during an investigation and charged him with attempted production of child sexual abuse material and attempted online enticement of a minor following a joint Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville and Northeast Florida Interagency Child Exploitation and Persons Trafficking (INTERCEPT) Task Force investigation.
Troy Lyn Everett, 62, of Smyrna, Georgia, faces a minimum sentence of 25 years, up to life, in federal prison if convicted on both charges.
According to court records, from Aug. 22 to Oct. 25, 2024, an undercover detective from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office posed as a 14-year-old girl on an online messaging application. During the first few minutes, Everett asked about the child’s age, and when he found out she was 14, he asked multiple times for sexually explicit photos of the child. In addition to asking for the photos, he set up a time and place for them to meet for sex. Everett then purchased a bus ticket and traveled from Atlanta to Jacksonville under the belief that he would be meeting the child once in Jacksonville. Upon arrival at the bus station, Everett was arrested by law enforcement. He is currently being held without bail awaiting trial.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force members, HSI and Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cannizzaro.
The Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force is a unique partnership that takes a collaborative and coordinated approach to work together at all three levels of government, alongside private sector partners, to rescue children from sexual exploitation. The Northeast INTERCEPT is a unique public–private partnership where nonprofit organizations provide financial, technical, and other resources to regional law enforcement partners dedicated to the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation. Support from Operation Light Shine, and partner donors like the Tim Tebow Foundation, allow law enforcement agencies to better serve the Northeast Florida communities and the many victims of human trafficking and child exploitation. The collaborative approach of bringing together the experience and expertise of local, state, and federal law enforcement professionals greatly enhances the ability to combat the many difficulties and challenges presented by the complexities of child exploitation and human trafficking investigations.
Members of the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force consist of members with HSI Jacksonville, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, Duval County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Attorney with the Middle District of Florida Roger Handberg, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect.
To report information about human trafficking, child sexual abuse or the trafficking in child sexual abuse material, contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP. Reports may also be sent through the CyberTipline on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's website, or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST. To report to law enforcement in the Jacksonville area, call First Coast Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.
Learn more about HSI Tampa’s mission to increase public safety in Florida communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSITampa.