MIAMI — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Florida, Southern), published as received.

MIAMI – Clifford Frederic Lind, 40, pleaded guilty in federal court this week to attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor and attempting to entice a minor. Lind, who used the online alias “it is what it is,” admitted to engaging in sexually explicit communications with someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl.

In connection with his guilty plea, Lind admitted that between May 29 and June 4, 2024, he communicated with a person he believed was an underage girl, via a social media application and text messages. During the exchanges, Lind sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself and requested sexual images in return. Lind also discussed plans to meet the supposed 13-year-old in person to engage in sexual activity, including details about picking her up and where they would stay. The communications, which took place while Lind was in the Southern District of Florida, involved the use of a smartphone and the internet, with the illicit materials traveling through interstate commerce.

Sentencing is set for July 9, at 10:00 a.m., in Key West before United States District Court Judge Darrin P. Gayles. Lind faces up to life in prison.

U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami made the announcement.

FBI Miami, Key West Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Maultasch is prosecuting the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sara Klco is handling asset forfeiture.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals 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.

Anyone with information relating to child sexual exploitation or abuse is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-10008.

###