SCRANTON MAN INDICTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO ENTICE CHILD FOR SEX

Martin C. Carlson, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that a federal grand jury today returned an indictment charging a 41-year-old Scranton man with using the internet to attempt to persuade and entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct.

Carlson stated that Lewis John Davies, Jr., was charged by the grand jury for allegedly committing the offense between April 20, 2008 and June 13, 2008.

Davies’ charge stems from an investigation by the FBI and Scranton Police.

Carlson noted that Davies faces a mandatory 10-year prison sentence and up to life in prison if he is convicted of the charge.

 “This is another case to be prosecuted under the penalty provisions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act,” commented Carlson, “and the law’s tough penalty provisions will continue to help law enforcement protect children from sexual predators.”

Carlson noted further that if Davies is convicted of the crime, in addition to the 10-year mandatory prison sentence and possible life prison sentence, he faces a mandatory five years and a possible life term of supervised release after serving any prison sentence.

Carlson noted that the investigation and prosecution of Davies are part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, 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.

Carlson noted that Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

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An indictment and criminal information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proved the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.