Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Traveling Interstate for Illicit Sexual Conduct and Coercing a Minor

A Wisconsin man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison on charges of coercing a minor and traveling between states with intent to commit an illicit sexual act. Yesterday the United States District Court of Western Michigan sentenced Tod Stafford, 60 years old of Bailey, Wisconsin, to serve 156 months for charges of coercing and enticing a minor and two counts of travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

The US Attorney for Western Michigan Mark Totten says that Stafford preyed on minors and has been held accountable for his predatory actions. Adding that protecting the most vulnerable remains a top priority for his office.

Stafford traveled twice from Wisconsin to Michigan with the intent of engaging in a sexual act with a minor. Messages between Stafford and a six-year-old minor were discovered by the victim’s parent. Iron Mountain police were notified and began communicating with Stafford, with law enforcement posing as the minor. In July 2023 Stafford was arrested after traveling to Michigan to meet with the victim. He was arrested by police at the site of a meet-up location.

The case falls in with Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorney’s offices, county prosecutors, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, and federal, state local, and tribal police agencies work closely to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit kids.

Learn more about Project Safe Childhood here.