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Press Release

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Employee Pleads Guilty To 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, Va., pleaded guilty today to enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.

            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 (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Washington, D.C., made the announcement after the plea hearing before United States District Judge Liam O’Grady.

At sentencing on May 10, 2013, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years — and up to a lifetime — of incarceration. At the time of his arrest on Oct. 24, 2012, Schimmel was an employee of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

According to court records, Schimmel met the 17-year-old victim through the Internet and convinced the victim to meet in person for the purpose of engaging in criminal sexual activity. In addition, Schimmel video recorded the sexual encounter without the victim’s knowledge.

            The case was investigated by HSI Washington, D.C., 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