Press release from the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Octavius Durdley, 46, of Archer, was convicted by a federal jury for not registering as a sexual offender as required under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act. The verdict was made public by John P. Heekin, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin stated, “Compliance with sex offender registration requirements is essential for keeping our communities informed and safe. My office is committed to rigorously pursuing such cases to guarantee that sexual offenders adhere to registration mandates.”

During the trial, evidence showed that in December 2024, Durdley, who was labeled as a sex offender after a 2010 conviction for receipt and possession of child pornography, deliberately failed to fulfill the registration obligations after being released from prison. Durdley had previously been convicted for failing to register as a sexual offender in 2022.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

Durdley will be required to continue to register as a sex offender following his prison sentence and is subject to a sentence up to ten years’ imprisonment.

This conviction was the result of an investigation by the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.