Manhattan Man Charged With Traveling To New Jersey For Illegal Sexual Activity With 13-Year-Old Girl

CAMDEN, N.J. – A Manhattan man was arrested today for traveling to New Jersey for the purpose of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Michael Tway Smith, 66, of New York, was arrested by special agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) in Maple Shade, New Jersey, where he expected to meet the girl. He is scheduled to have his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joel Schneider in Camden federal court.

According to the complaint:

Beginning on Nov. 13, 2014, Smith initiated a series of chats on a website with an undercover agent from ICE HSI, whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Over the course of the next several days, Smith had multiple online communications with the agent during which he indicated his desire to engage in sexual activity with the fictitious girl. Smith then made arrangements to travel from Manhattan to Maple Shade. On Nov. 19, 2014, Smith traveled to Maple Shade, where he had reserved a room at a motel and contacted the fictitious girl to finalize the meeting. Today, Smith went to a convenience store near the motel believing he was going to meet the girl and return to the motel with her to engage in sexual activity.

The count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of ICE HSI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge John P. Woods in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D’Aguanno of the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office Camden Office.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Smith, Michael Tway Complaint