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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
July 20, 2009
LA CYGNE, KAN., MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR ATTEMPTING TO ENTICE A MINOR OVER INTERNET
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Aaron A. White, 21, La Cygne, Kan., has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for using a computer and the Internet to attempt to entice a minor to have sex with him, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.
In April 2009, White pleaded guilty to one count of using a computer to entice a minor. In his plea, White admitted the investigation began in January 2008 when a detective of the Independence, Kan., Police Department who was posing as a 13-year-old girl encountered White through an online chat. In conversations with the detective, White talked about performing sexual activities. Ultimately, White solicited the detective to meet him for a sexual encounter. He told the detective to meet him at a gas station at 39th and Crackerneck Road in Independence, Mo. When White arrived, he was arrested. A search of his car revealed he had purchased condoms to bring to the meeting.
Investigators found thousands of images of child pornography on a computer at White’s home in La Cygne. Computer records indicated he had been chatting with other children online. Evidence showed he had communicated with girls as young as 9 years old.
Welch commended the Independence, Kan., Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Martin for their work on the case. This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. For more information, see www.projectsafechildhood.gov .
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