Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Entice A Minor

ALBANY, NEW YORK – David Ahearn, age 53, of Syracuse, New York, pleaded guilty on September 14, 2015 to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Andrew W. Vale, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Ahearn faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, as well as a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. He also faces a maximum fine of $250,000 and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Ahearn will be sentenced in Albany on January 11, 2016 by United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy.

As part of his guilty plea, Ahearn admitted that on March 10, 2015, he travelled from Syracuse to a hotel in Albany to meet “Craig” a 43-year-old man he met on Craigslist, and his 14-year-old son “Kyle,” for the purpose of having sex with both of them. “Craig” was actually an undercover Colonie Police Department Officer. During his online communications with “Craig,” Ahearn told “Craig” that he wanted to engage in sexual activity with “Craig” and his 14-year-old son “Kyle.”

This prosecution resulted from an investigation conducted by the Colonie Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily T. Farber and Lisa Fletcher.

The case was prosecuted as part of 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc/.