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

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Octavius Durdley, 46, of Archer, was found guilty by a federal jury of failing to register as a sexual offender under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act. The verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “Adherence to sex offender registration requirements is critical to keeping our communities informed and safe.  My office will continue to aggressively pursue these types of cases to ensure strict compliance with registration requirements by sexual offenders.”

Trial testimony demonstrated in December 2024, Durdley, who was designated as a sex offender following a 2010 conviction for receipt and possession of child pornography, purposefully did not complete the required registration upon his release from prison. Durdley was previously 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.