Rock Hill SC sex offender sought child online. He was caught by cops, is going to prison
A registered sex offender from Rock Hill who tried to meet a child for sex after online chats, which were actually conversations with undercover police, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison, records show.
Xanthus Nakia Murdaugh, 46, pleaded guilty in federal court to coercion of a female child, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Daniels and federal court records with the U.S. District Court in Columbia.
Murdaugh was arrested in November 2019 in a law enforcement operation handled by York County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Department of Homeland Security agents, and the FBI. The operation targeted suspects who were accused of attempting to exploit children, records show.
In November 2019, Murdaugh said in online chats he wanted sex with a female child, according to federal court indictments and prosecutors. When Murdaugh arrived at a York County residence for what was supposed to be a sexual encounter with a child, he had sexual items in his possession, but was arrested by deputies and federal agents.
Murdaugh has been jailed since his arrest.
Murdaugh is on the South Carolina sex offender registry from previous convictions for child pornography, records show.
After Murdaugh serves 140 months in federal prison, he will remain on supervised release for another 10 years, records show.
