SHREVEPORT, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a man from Texas pleaded guilty to bringing a minor to Shreveport to engage in prostitution.

Larry D. Bluitt, 26, of Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in prostitution. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, a law enforcement agent working in an undercover capacity responded to an online ad for prostitution on December 17, 2014. The undercover agent arranged to meet an individual at a Shreveport hotel for the purpose of prostitution. Agents observed Bluitt driving a 14-year-old female to the hotel to meet the undercover agent for sex. After he dropped off the juvenile, Bluitt was arrested by members of the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. Bluitt admitted he drove the minor female from Dallas to Shreveport for prostitution.

Bluitt faces 10 years to life in prison, five years or life of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, forfeiture of property and mandatory registration as a sex offender. A sentencing date of January 28, 2016 was set.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative 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 combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Those concerned may leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously. The Shreveport FBI office number is (318) 861-1890.

The FBI-Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.