John Stephen Baker, a 71-year-old resident of Tucson, has been sentenced to eight and a half years in federal prison for attempting to travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. The sentencing took place on September 10 before United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps. Baker will also serve a term of lifetime supervised release following his prison sentence.
Baker pleaded guilty after admitting that between February 6 and May 10, 2023, he communicated online with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl. The individual was actually an undercover special agent from Homeland Security Investigations. According to court records, Baker discussed previous sexual experiences during these communications and voiced concerns about being arrested if he engaged in sex with a minor. Despite these concerns, on May 10, 2023, Baker traveled from Tucson to Sahuarita, Arizona intending to meet the person for illicit purposes.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse by using federal, state, and local resources to locate and prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More details about this program can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation into Baker’s actions. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathaniel J. Walters and Jennifer H. Berman prosecuted the case for the District of Arizona.
"Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case," stated officials involved.
"Assistant United States Attorneys Nathaniel J. Walters and Jennifer H. Berman, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution," according to information released by authorities.
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