Las Cruces Man Indicted in El Paso for Sexual Coercion of a Minor

EL PASO, Texas – Bradley Fariss Pieper, 27, of Las Cruces was indicted in a federal court in El Paso Wednesday, and charged with coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to allegations in a criminal complaint, Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested Pieper on Sept. 9, when he attempted to meet with a person he believed was a 15-year old girl for the purpose of performing sexual acts with her. Pieper had arranged the meeting and communicated his intentions in chats on social media. 

The indictment charges Pieper with one count of coercion and enticement. The defendant was arrested Sept. 9 and made his initial court appearance Sept. 11 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne T. Berton of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. At the Sept. 20 detention hearing, Judge Berton ordered Pieper to be detained without bond pending trial.

If convicted, Pieper faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola for the HSI El Paso Division made the announcement.

HSI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Osterberg is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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