ALBANY, NEW YORK - David Rancourt, age 61, of Palmer, Massachusetts, was arrested and charged on Saturday with attempting to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Andrew W. Vale, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Rancourt faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison on the charge of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. He also faces a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Today, United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart ordered Rancourt detained pending trial.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to the criminal complaint, Rancourt posted an online advertisement titled "Dad looking for a son," in which he solicited sexual role-play encounters. Following email exchanges with a Colonie Police Department officer acting undercover, Rancourt travelled to Albany in order to meet at a prearranged time and place to engage in sexual activities with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old boy.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colonie Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon B. Shinerock.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
