Convicted Sex Offender Admits to Enticing a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and to Receiving Child Pornography

Baltimore, Maryland – Michael L. Montague, age 65, formerly of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to using a mobile phone to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and to receipt of child pornography.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Kevin Perkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Special Agent in Charge Andre Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

According to Montague’s plea agreement, from February 16 through March 26, 2014, Montague used his mobile phone to contact Boy 1. Montague knew Boy 1, and knew that Boy 1 was 12 years old at the time of their communications. Montague used a mobile application to contact Boy 1 using a number different from the telephone number assigned to Montague’s phone. Using this disguised phone number, Montague contacted Boy 1 and claimed to be “Gail,” a classmate of victim’s. Posing as “Gail,” Montague engaged in sexually explicit text and email communications with Boy 1.

Montague, posing as “Gail” wrote to Boy 1 that she knew Montague, and that Boy 1 should send pictures of himself to Montague, and Montague would send Boy 1 pictures of “Gail.” “Gail” told Boy 1 that Montague had very nice pictures of “Gail” that Boy 1 should ask Montague to see. “Gail” suggested that Boy 1 seek permission to stay with Montague for a weekend so that “Gail” and Boy 1 could meet for a sexual encounter. “Gail” also told Boy 1 that she could get Montague to make a sexual video of her, and that then Boy 1 should let Montague make a sexual video with Boy 1.  Montague also sent messages to Boy 1 posing as a male classmate of Boy 1 who also knew Montague and “Gail.”

Forensic examination of Montague’s phone revealed sexually explicit communications with Boy 1, sexually explicit images and videos Montague sent to Boy 1, and a sexually explicit image that the victim sent to Montague.

On May 19, 2009, Montague was convicted in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Maryland, of child abuse and a third degree sex offense, for his sexual abuse of two girls, and was sentenced to three years in prison.  Upon his release from prison, Montague was required to register as a sex offender.  As part of this plea agreement, Montague will be required to continue to register as a sex offender in the place where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

Montague faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity; and a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 40 years in prison for receipt of child pornography, each followed by up to lifetime supervised release. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for February 19, 2016, at 11:00 a.m.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "resources" tab on the left of the page.            

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, HSI Baltimore, Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Baltimore County Police Department and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Judson T. Mihok, who are prosecuting the case.