Pierce County man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for child sex crimes

A Pierce County man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after attempting to arrange the sexual abuse of children and producing child sexual abuse material, federal prosecutors announced.

Randy Lee Young, 40, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle on convictions for attempted enticement of a minor and production of child sexual abuse images.

Case details

Young was arrested Nov. 16, 2024, after communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as the mother of two young girls, ages 8 and 11, according to a Department of Justice press release. Investigators said Young exchanged messages with the undercover officer over several days and traveled from Pierce County to Marysville intending to meet the children for sexual activity. Investigators arrested him when he arrived at the designated location.

A forensic examination of Young’s cellphone uncovered evidence that led investigators to a separate victim, a 13-year-old girl from Southwest Washington. Authorities said Young met the girl online and traveled to her hometown seven times in October and November 2024, recording sexual encounters despite knowing her age.

The sentencing

At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Lauren King praised the victim’s cooperation with investigators and told her that the responsibility for the crimes rested solely with Young.

Acting U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said the sentence reflects the seriousness of the offenses.

“The community is safer with this defendant off the street,” Floyd said in a statement. “Mr. Young made his intentions clear while communicating with the undercover officer. Then when he was arrested, law enforcement discovered a 13-year-old had already been victimized.”

FBI Seattle Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington said evidence found on Young’s phone showed repeated abuse of a child and highlighted the importance of pursuing online predators.

The prosecution’s arguments

Federal prosecutors argued for a lengthy prison term, noting that Young continued pursuing the planned meeting despite multiple opportunities to stop. Prosecutors said the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others who seek to exploit children.

In a victim impact statement submitted to the court, the mother of the 13-year-old victim said Young had taken away her daughter’s sense of safety and trust.

“He stole more than her innocence,” the statement said. “He stole her sense of safety, her ability to trust, and parts of a childhood that she cannot get back.”

In addition to the 15-year prison sentence, King ordered Young to serve 20 years of supervised release after he is released. A separate hearing scheduled for February 2027 will determine restitution owed to the victim.

The case was investigated by the FBI Seattle Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force with assistance from the Renton Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cecelia Gregson.

Read more of Regan Gallo-Fenz’s stories here. Submit news tips here.