A Florida man who previously worked as a pre-kindergarten teacher was sentenced to a decade in federal prison this week for attempting to entice a minor online.
Tony Leroy Bartley, Jr., 38, Jacksonville, received the 10-year sentence from U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt following his guilty plea in January. Along with the prison term, Bartley faces 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
The case against Bartley began in July 2025 during an undercover operation conducted by the FBI in Jacksonville. Using a popular social media application, an undercover agent posed as a 13-year-old child to identify adults targeting minors.
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Over the course of several days, Bartley—using the handle “keven”—exchanged private messages and texts with the agent. Even after being told the “child” was only 13, Bartley continued the conversation, suggesting sexual activity and sending an explicit photograph of himself.
At the time of his arrest in August 2025, Bartley was employed as a teacher for young children at a school in Ponte Vedra Beach.
When confronted by investigators, Bartley did not deny the interactions. According to court records, he admitted to communicating with a girl he knew was underage and discussing sexual acts.
During his interview with federal agents, Bartley stated, “I should have stopped at 13, and that’s on me,” later adding, “I’m going away for a long time.”
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U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the sentencing, noting that the investigation was a joint effort between the FBI and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This conviction is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative created in 2006. The program coordinates local, state, and federal law enforcement to track down those who exploit children online.
Since its launch, the project has focused on both the apprehension of offenders and the rescue of victims across the country.
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