United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Childhood: PHILADELPHIA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TRAVELING TO CONNECTICUT TO ENGAGE IN SEX WITH A MINOR

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that THAY ENG, 29, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today before Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to one count of traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a 13-year-old girl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on several occasions between January 2009 and April 2009, ENG traveled to Connecticut where he engaged in illicit sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl.

ENG and the minor victim met over the internet through the game Diablo II, and had been in regular internet contact since September 2008.  ENG and his victim began telephone contact in October 2008, and ENG told the victim that he was married, but planned to get a divorce.

Judge Thompson has scheduled sentencing for May 25, 2010, at which time ENG faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years and fine of up to $250,000.  ENG has been detained in federal custody since his arrest in New Jersey on July 8, 2009.

Sexual assault charges are pending against ENG in Connecticut Superior Court.

This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and local police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anastasia Enos King.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.              

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov