U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman | U.S. Department of Justice
Donald Jenkins, a 37-year-old resident of Clarksville, Tennessee, was arrested on charges of traveling to New York with the intent to engage in illegal sexual conduct with a minor. The arrest was announced by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations.
A criminal complaint details that Jenkins began communication in September 2024 to plan the sexual abuse of an 11-year-old child living in Clifton Park, New York. He allegedly rented a car in Tennessee and drove to Clifton Park with this intention. On November 19, 2024, Jenkins was apprehended at a prearranged meeting spot after arriving in Clifton Park. It is alleged he had taken an STD test earlier that day and brought multiple pairs of children's underwear as gifts for the minor. The charges are accusations at this stage, and Jenkins is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Jenkins appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and has been detained pending a detention hearing set for Monday, November 25. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison, fines up to $250,000, supervised release ranging from five years to life, and mandatory sex offender registration. Sentencing will be determined by the judge based on applicable statutes and guidelines.
The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is handling prosecution under Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood was initiated by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to marshal resources for locating and prosecuting individuals exploiting children via the Internet while identifying and rescuing victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
