A federal jury in Abilene on Monday convicted the former city manager of Anson of attempted enticement of a minor after an undercover sting that targeted online solicitations. The felony count carries a statutory sentence of at least 10 years in federal prison and up to life, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17.
Undercover operation and arrest
The case grew out of "Operation Nightfall," a two-day undercover sweep in late February that used fake online personas on escort sites and social media to flag people believed to be seeking minors, according to the Abilene Police Department. The effort pulled in multiple agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, the Texas Office of the Attorney General, and Homeland Security Investigations.
San Angelo LIVE reported that Campbell responded to a Facebook Marketplace ad described as "massage and fun" and was accused of arranging to meet people he believed were 15 and 16 years old.
Trial and evidence
In a one-day federal trial in Abilene, jurors found Campbell guilty after what MyTexasDaily reported was just 30 minutes of deliberation.
Prosecutors introduced chat logs, a saved phone contact labeled "15," and geolocation and cell phone records that they say showed Campbell traveled from Anson to a hotel in Abilene, arriving with two condoms and more than $500 in cash.
Penalties, prosecution and what comes next
Under federal law, attempted enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, along with potential fines of up to $250,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
Court filings state that Campbell is set to be sentenced on September 17. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whitney James and Allyson Monte, MyTexasDaily reported.
Investigative work in the case involved HSI in Dallas, the Texas DPS Criminal Investigations Division in Abilene, the Texas Office of the Attorney General, and the Abilene Police Department, which had previously coordinated on the Operation Nightfall sting.
