FLORENCE SEX OFFENDER GUILTY FOR NOT REGISTERING

United States Attorney W. WALTER WILKINS stated that Rakeem Lavone Everett, age 30, of Florence, pled guilty in federal court to failing to register as a sex offender, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2250(a). United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten accepted the plea and will impose sentence at a later date.

In March 1998, Everett was convicted of endangering the welfare of a child in New Jersey and designated as a sex offender. Everett failed to maintain or update his registration as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. In May 2008, New Jersey authorities requested the assistance of the United States Marshals office in apprehending Everett, and he was arrested in Florence on June 4, 2008.

Everett admitted he failed to notify New Jersey authorities that he was moving, and failed to register in South Carolina as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

Mr. Wilkins stated the maximum penalty Everett can receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for 10 years.

The case was investigated by agents of the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office handled the case.