Florida Supreme Court suspends law license of former FSU attorney

May 29, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- The Florida Supreme Court has suspended the law license of Dayton "Michael" Cramer in the wake of a recent guilty verdict in federal court.

The Florida Bar released that information Tuesday afternoon as part of its April disciplinary report.

Cramer was found guilty in March of trying to entice a minor for sex. His sentencing is set for June 15.

Tuesday's announcement indicates Cramer has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1971. He was a high ranking attorney for Florida State University until his arrest and resignation last year.

March 21, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Former FSU attorney Dayton "Michael" Cramer has been found guilty of trying to entice a minor for sex.

The jury deliberated for just over an hour before announcing its verdict in Tallahassee's federal court.

Cramer was taken into custody and will be sentenced on June 15.

He was one of the men charged in an online sting called "Cupids Arrow" in February 2017. Cramer was arrested by U.S. Marshals on Valentine's Day as he arrived to meet with what he thought was the mother of 13-year-old girl.

March 20, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- Federal prosecutors rested their case against Dayton "Michael" Cramer on Tuesday afternoon.

The former FSU attorney was arrested in an online sting last year.

He's accused of trying to entice a minor for sex.

An undercover officer testified Tuesday about his on line chats with Cramer. He says Cramer never balked at the 13 year old's age, but was nervous about the possibility of a police sting.

Cramer opted not to testify in his own defense.

Attorneys will make their final arguments to the jury Wednesday morning. The jury could begin deliberating by lunch hour.

March 19, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- An attorney snared in an online sex sting is now on trial in Tallahassee's federal court.

Dayton "Michael" Cramer was arrested as part of "Operation Cupid's Arrow" last year. He was a high ranking attorney at FSU at the time of his arrest and promptly resigned.

Cramer responded to a Craigslist ad in February 2017. Prosecutors contend he was chatting with a woman and trying to arrange to meet her 13 year old step-daughter for sex.

Prosecutor Christopher Thielemann says Cramer emailed photos of himself and sent a detailed description of what he planned to do with the child.

Cramer's attorney told the jury in opening statements Monday afternoon that Cramer did not chat with a minor and did not go to meet a minor.

He called the sting a trap.

"Was he stupid? Yeah. Was he bored? Yeah," defense attorney Tim Jansen told the jury, but that doesn't mean he committed a crime.

"Mr. Cramer never believed there was a 13 year old," Jansen said. He contends Cramer repeatedly said he was not interested in meeting and later agreed to meet with the mother alone.

That's when he was arrested by U.S. Marshals.

Testimony is expected to continue on Tuesday.

February 15, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) -- One of FSU's top attorneys has resigned in the wake of his arrest for online child enticement charges.

Deputy general counsel Dayton "Michael" Cramer was arrested Tuesday in an online sting by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“These allegations against our former deputy general counsel are shocking and appalling," FSU President John Thrasher said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.

"We are cooperating fully with law enforcement.," Thrasher said. "I expect all university employees to conduct themselves at the highest moral, ethical and professional standards and to uphold the values of this institution.”

Thrasher said Cramer, whose colleagues call him "Mike," was placed on administrative leave as soon as they learned about the arrest.

"Later in the day," Thrasher said, "when we received the criminal complaint, we initiated steps toward terminating his employment. However, he resigned before being terminated."

February 15, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A top attorney working for Florida State University has been arrested by federal authorities and charged with attempted enticement of a minor.

Court records show FSU associate general counsel Dayton Cramer was arrested on Tuesday.

FSU spokeswoman Jill Elish said Cramer resigned prior to the university firing him. Cramer was earning more than $156,000 a year at his job.

According to Cramer's LinkedIn profile, he had been with FSU since November of 2000 and prior to that was a Colonel in the U.S. Army.

Elish said he was arrested off-campus.

An affidavit alleges Cramer responded this month to fake ads posted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in which he thought he was communicating with the stepmother of a 13-year-old girl. The affidavit includes email messages where Cramer allegedly acknowledges the girl's age and describes what he wants to do with her.

Court records do not show if Cramer has an attorney.