FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
MAY 12, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ELKRIDGE, MARYLAND MAN SENTENCED TO 29 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR TRAVELING IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE TO ENGAGE IN SEX WITH A MINOR
Federal Prosecution Followed Reversal of State Conviction After
Arrest by Maryland “Internet Crimes Against Children” Task Force
BALTIMORE, Maryland - Richard Joseph Moore, age 39, of Elkridge, Maryland was sentenced today to 29 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release for traveling in interstate commerce to engage in sexual activity with a minor, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Moore had previously been prosecuted by the State’s Attorney for Frederick County, Maryland and convicted of a child pornography charge, as well as an attempted third degree sex offense. The state convictions were overturned on appeal because the state court found the Maryland state statute did not apply when there was no actual child victim.
U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein stated, "Too many children are victimized by child molesters who contact them through the internet. This case demonstrates the important role that the federal government serves, not only in prosecuting internet predators caught during federal investigations, but also when a dangerous criminal avoids prosecution by state authorities."
“The arrest, conviction and sentencing of this man reiterates ICE’s commitment to apprehend and prosecute those who abuse our children and endanger their lives and well-being,” said ICE Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Bastan. “We will continue working with federal, state and local agencies to ensure that those who try to hurt our children are brought to justice.”
“The Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is an outstanding team of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers dedicated to identifying and apprehending those who prey and attempt to prey on vulnerable children,” Department of State Police Secretary, Colonel Thomas E. Hutchins said. “I commend U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein and the members of his office for their commitment to prosecuting those involved in this type of predatory criminal behavior.”
According to the agreed statement of facts presented to the court, on July 9, 2002 and July 10, 2002, a police officer from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office signed on to the Internet in an undercover capacity using screen name “sherrygirl882001,” posing as a 14 year-old minor female. Moore, using screen names, engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover officer and stated that he wanted to come to the residence of “sherrygirl882001" to have sex.
On July 12, 2002, when Moore again expressed a desire to have sex with “sherrygirl882001" and another 14 year old girl that the undercover officer had written about, the undercover officer gave Moore an address on Waverley Drive in Frederick City, Maryland, stating that “she” lived in an apartment above the rental office. Moore agreed to the date, time and place set for the rendezvous. Moore stated that his name was Rich, and he would be operating a Black Jeep Cherokee and wearing a red-striped Polo shirt and blue jeans.
On July 12, 2002, Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (“ICAC”) Task Force members saw the defendant, dressed as he described and driving a black Jeep Cherokee, pull into the parking lot of the agreed upon apartment building and enter a parking space in front of the rental office. ICAC Task Force members arrested the driver, who was identified as Moore. Moore admitted that he had left his office in Reston, Virginia and driven to Waverley Drive to engage in sex with two minors he had met on the internet.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Norman, who prosecuted the case.
This page last modified—May 15, 2006