SOLICITATION OF A MINOR CHARGES
Federal law makes it a crime to engage in any on-line solicitation of a minor for a sexual purpose. A sexual purpose is defined as having the intent to commit a sexual activity with that minor. On-line solicitation is one of the most targeted and investigated activities by federal law enforcement. The act of on-line solicitation often occurs in the form of e-mail or instant messaging. Contacting a minor becomes a violation of federal law when the nature of the conversation turns sexually explicit. In order to be prosecuted physical contact with the minor is not required. The mere sexually explicit communication or forwarding of sexually explicit materials to the minor is enough for a conviction under federal law. 18 U.S.C. Section 2422 provides punishment for “[w]hoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce…knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so.” If convicted of solicitation of a minor you may be facing large fines and/or imprisonment for a minimum of ten years.
Because of the life-threatening consequences of a solicitation of a minor conviction it is important that you seek the services of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney immediately if you have been charged with or are being investigated for solicitation of a minor. At Kestenbaum, Eisner, & Gorin, LLP, our attorneys have over 50 years combined experience in criminal defense and we will work hard to provide you with a successful defense. Because of the complexity of federal laws and court systems, it is very important that your lawyer have a good amount of experience in federal court rooms. Now is not the time to entrust your case to an attorney who is ill-equipped to handle your solicitation of a minor charges. You should contact our firm as soon as possible to be directed to a lawyer who will address your charges in a way that will positively resolve your case.