JACKSONVILLE – U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the detention and indictment of Travis Ryan Pritchard, 36, of Green Cove Springs. Pritchard was initially charged by criminal complaint and, on May 15, was ordered detained in federal custody pending trial.

On May 20, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Pritchard with online enticement of a minor and attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, Pritchard faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, and up to two life terms, in federal prison.

According to court documents, Pritchard was employed as a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. At the time of the alleged offense, he was assigned to the DUI unit. From December 2019 through May 2, Pritchard used an online chat application to communicate with a 15-year-old girl with whom he had engaged in sexual activity on a weekly basis.

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 was investigated by the Green Cove Springs Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Asst. U.S. Attorney Kelly S. Karase.

Any person who has additional information or knows of someone who may have been a victim is urged to contact the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form.