Tampa Man Arrested for Travelling to Meet Minor


NEWS RELEASE #: 17-130 - JUNE 6, 2017

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Marcus Wilcox

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Tampa man after he traveled to Sarasota County to have sex with what he thought was a 12-year-old girl.

Marcus Wilcox, DOB 03/05/1990 was arrested for Use of a Computer to Solicit a Child to Commit Sex Acts and Traveling to Solicit a Child to Commit Sex Acts.

On Wednesday May 31, an undercover agent received a text message from the defendant through an online social media site. The defendant initiated the conversation for the purpose of meeting up to engage in sex. He was aware the girl was a minor. A location to meet was agreed upon and the defendant travelled from Tampa to the location, where he was taken into custody by detectives.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office routinely monitors online social media sites, chat rooms and online apps in an effort to protect local children from online predators.