Gainesville man accused of attempting to entice minor online

Matthew Caniff also faces child pornography charges

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Gainesville man has been indicted on charges including attempted online enticement of a minor, advertising for child pornography and attempted production of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Matthew Caniff, 33, engaged in a series of online text conversations with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old child on March 31 and April 1, according to court documents. The "child" was actually an undercover FBI agent.

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The U.S. Attorney's Office said Caniff discussed in graphic detail his desire to have sex with the "child" at "her" home during the course of the conversations.

Caniff also sent several explicit photos of himself to the "child" and told "her" that he would bring prescription drugs with him to share with "her," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Caniff drove from Gainesville to a home in St. Johns County during the early morning hours on April 1 to meet the "child" for sex, officials said.

Caniff was arrested by St. Johns County deputies. The U.S. Attorney's Office said several prescription pills were found in his possession.

If convicted, Caniff faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years up to life in federal prison on the attempted enticement charge, authorities said. Caniff faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years up to 30 years in prison for each of the enticement, advertising and attempted production charges.