Registered Sex Offender From Lexington Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Attempting to Purchase Sex With a Minor and Possessing Child Pornography

BOSTON – A Lexington, Mass. man was sentenced today for attempting to pay for sex with a 14-year-old girl. Defendant told undercover agent that the child should expect a man who looks like Santa Claus.

David Cannon, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dennis F. Saylor IV to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In November 2023, Cannon pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child and one count of possession of child pornography. 

“Individuals like Cannon drive the demand for sex trafficking of children. Those who seek to pay for sex with kids must be seriously punished so that the message resonates that there are grave consequences for engaging in such deplorable conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This office is committed to prosecuting human trafficking from all angles — the individuals who traffic innocent girls and the men who drive demand for such services.”

“Cannon had previously been convicted for crimes against a child and was just off probation when he was arrested by HSI for attempting to pay to sexually abuse a minor. When he arrived at the hotel to commit this crime, he was met by an undercover HSI special agent instead of a child sex trafficker,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Today’s sentence keeps this serial predator off the streets and away from children. We are grateful to our partners who worked to make this operation possible as we all work together to end human trafficking.”

In November 2022, Cannon responded to an online advertisement offering commercial sex with two young girls. Through an ensuing text conversation with an undercover agent posing as the seller of the two girls, Cannon offered to pay $200 to have sex with either the 12-year-old or 14-year-old girl and indicated that he would purchase whoever was ready first. Ultimately, Cannon agreed to pay $200 to have sex with the fictitious 14-year-old girl. 

Shortly thereafter, Cannon went to a greater Boston hotel where he met with the undercover agent posing as the purported seller. There, Cannon confirmed he had the money to pay for the commercial sex act and accepted a hotel key. Cannon also said to tell the child to expect a man who looks like Santa Claus. Lubricant and condoms were subsequently found in Cannon’s vehicle.  

Additionally, a search of Cannon’s cell phone revealed dozens of photographs and videos depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well as text messages discussing his affinity for CSAM. At sentencing, Cannon was also ordered to pay $17,500 in restitution to the victims whose child sexual abuse material he possessed.  

At the time of the offense, Cannon was a registered sex offender, having been convicted in 2019 of indecent assault of an 11-year-old child on three separate occasions.

If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and SAC Krol made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, Chief of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit prosecuted the case.