East Greenwich Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Enticing a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

PROVIDENCE – Stephen T. Ferrante, 62, of East Greenwich, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for attempting to persuade, induce, entice or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for New England.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., also ordered Ferrante to serve 5 years of supervised release upon completion of his term of incarceration. The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines range of imprisonment in this matter is 168-210 months. The government and defendant jointly recommended the court impose a sentence of 120 months in prison.

Ferrante pleaded guilty on April 26, 2017, to use of any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce to persuade, induce, entice or coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity.

At the time of his guilty plea, Ferrante admitted to the court that in January 2017, he communicated online, by text message and by telephone with an individual he believed to be arranging for him to have sexual contact with an 8-year-old girl.

 Ferrante was arrested by members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations agents, on January 12, 2017, when he arrived at a pre-determined location in Warwick where he believed he would be meeting with that person.

Ferrante has been detained since his arrest.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.

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