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Press Release

Former U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Employee Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Enticing A Minor To Engage In Criminal Sexual Activity

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — James Raymond Schimmel, 53, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.  At the time of his arrest on October 24, 2012, Schimmel was an employee of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

            Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and John P. Torres, Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Liam O’Grady.

According to court records, Schimmel met the minor victim through the Internet and convinced the victim to meet in person for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual activity.  Schimmel then video recorded the sexual encounter without the victim’s knowledge.  Further investigation revealed that Schimmel had been engaging in similar communications with other minors in the mid-Atlantic area.

            The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Northern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Virginia State Police.

Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander T.H. Nguyen and Ryan K. Dickey are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.
Updated March 18, 2015