Larry Goldsmith, a 26-year-old man from Indianapolis, has been sentenced to two decades in federal prison with a subsequent lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to the charge of transporting a minor for the intent of engaging in sexual activity, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
The convicted individual started contacting a 14-year-old girl in Michigan in 2020, using the social media apps Spot-a-Friend, and Snapchat. Despite being aware of her minor status, Goldsmith initiated sexually explicit conversations. A domestic dispute in late August 2020 led the girl to confide her wish to run away to Goldsmith, who then drove more than four hours to collect her in Michigan, according to court documents.
Following their meeting, Goldsmith and the girl stopped at a Michigan rest area where he engaged in sexual conduct with her before crossing state lines to Indianapolis, where he had secured a rental home. It was here that he continued to sexually exploit the minor, an ongoing abuse that resulted in her pregnancy. Goldsmith's predatory pattern continued beyond Michigan, echoing in Georgia with a 13-year-old victim, whom he drugged and raped. These crimes, as well, have led to a 15-year federal prison sentence that he is currently serving.
In the aftermath of these condemnations, authorities have made pointed declarations about the outcome and its intended message. "Goldsmith is no longer a danger to children and families in our community," Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, John E. Childress, said in a statement obtained by U.S. Attorney's Office, "He is a manipulative, child predator who used the tools of social media to abuse a vulnerable child over and over again." The gravity of Goldsmith's actions has triggered federal mandates, including the necessity for him to register as a sex offender for life—regardless of his location, employment, or education endeavors.
The case, investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), concluded with U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman imposing the sentence. The IMPD Chief, Chris Bailey, reinforced the stern warning this sentence conveys, stating, "This sentence sends a clear message—those who harm children will be held accountable," according to U.S. Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryAnn T. Mindrum prosecuted the case which is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national DOJ initiative targeting child sexual exploitation.
