Following a three-day trial, a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, today found Gregory John Schaffer guilty of enticement to travel to engage in illegal sexual activity, enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, attempted enticement to travel to engage in illegal sexual activity, and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
The convictions were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James T. Hayes, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York Field Office.
Using the website Craigslist, the defendant lured the victim, a 15-year-old girl from Brooklyn, to his Jersey City, New Jersey, office with false promises of a job. Once there, however, the defendant convinced her to try on several provocative swimsuits, filming her as she changed into them, and repeatedly touched the victim’s breasts, buttocks and groin. The defendant also tricked her into signing a contract that, he claimed, obligated her to have sex with him. When the victim asked to be let out of the contract, the defendant threatened to sue her and her family for breach of contract. The defendant then told the victim that he would be willing to change the contract if she had sex with him. The defendant then had sex with the victim and warned her not to tell anyone about the sex because of an alleged confidentiality agreement in the contract.
“We are committed to protecting children and adolescents from online predators," stated United States Attorney Lynch. “The defendant created a fake document and spurious legal obligation in order to confuse and exploit a vulnerable young girl. Those who sexually exploit children will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law." Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the New York Field Office of HSI, the agency responsible for leading the government’s investigation, and the New York Police Department, for assisting in the investigation.
When sentenced by United States District Judge Allyne R. Ross, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum term of life imprisonment on each of the four counts of the indictment.
The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter W. Baldwin.
The Defendant:
GREGORY JOHN SCHAFFER
Age: 34
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
