An Orlando man is at the center of federal charges again, an indictment handed down by a grand jury points to Delta Henry Rushing II, a 29-year-old with a history of sexual offenses, for luring a minor into sexual activity. Under the thick shadow of past convictions as a sex offender, Rushing now faces a minimum of 20 years to possibly life in prison according to the U.S. Attorney's Office announcement.
Despite the serious nature of the crimes—which occurred between November and December 2022—Rushing, after having been once ensnared by the law, finds himself accused of using his assets to engage and entice someone he knew was less than 18 years old, to engage in illicit acts. The indictment, besides aiming to call him to account for his actions, also seeks the forfeiture of any assets he used to facilitate these charges.
Project Safe Childhood, an initiative seeking to stem the tide of child sexual exploitation that propelled this case into the judiciary sphere, has put its weight behind the prosecution. United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg's mention of the project signals the commitment of the Department of Justice to safeguard minors from such predators. Spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the case against Rushing is being cultivated by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
The gravity of such accusations lies starkly before us; an indictment is but an accusation, not a conviction, and every indicted soul rests under the presumption of innocence until the gavel resounds with the weight of guilt, the United States Attorney’s Office elucidates. Engaged by Project Safe Childhood, a detailed and methodical effort mirrors the national fight against child abuse and exploitation, is drawing on resources spread throughout the federal, state, and local landscapes to track and bring those accused to justice, and equally significant, to rescue the victims entangled in their wake.
