Pennsylvania man indicted for traveling to Ohio to have sex with 15-year-old

A Pennsylvania man was indicted on charges that he enticed and traveled with the intent of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a child, said Carole S. Rendon, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Carmen J. Sagnimeni, 38, of Mercer, Penn., knowingly used a cellular phone with Internet connectivity to attempt to persuade, induce, entice and coerce an underage girl to engage in illegal sexual activity with him. The indictment also charges on Dec. 15, 2016, Sagnimeni knowingly traveled from Pennsylvania to Ohio for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a 15 year‑old girl, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.