Vertis McNeil Robinson, a 47-year-old resident of Monticello, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on charges of attempted enticement of a minor. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Robinson appeared for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick on August 21, 2025, in Tallahassee. A jury trial is scheduled for October 20, 2025, at 8:15 am before District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
If convicted, Robinson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and could receive up to life imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer 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.”
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to address child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify and prosecute those who exploit children online and to rescue victims. 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 one of 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, and further details about the office are available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
