If convicted, he faces a possible sentence of life in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

ST. PETERSBURG – A St. Petersburg man has been accused of crossing state lines to have sex with a minor, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Liam Heim, 22, of St. Petersburg, was charged Friday (April 27) with traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and transportation of a minor in interstate commerce with intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity. The indictment alleges that Heim committed each offense March 29.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children using the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

If convicted as charged, Heim faces a maximum possible sentence of 1ife imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, supervised release for a minimum term of five years and a lifetime maximum term, a $500,000 dollar fine, mandatory restitution, and a maximum $10,200 special assessment.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Airport Police, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, and Collingswood Police Department.

For information about Project Safe Childhood, go to projectsafechildhood.gov.

U.S. Attorney | Crime | Sex with Minor | Arrests | Tampabay News

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