Buffalo Man Arrested for Online Enticement of a 14-Year-Old

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jafet Rivera, 24, of Buffalo, New York, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with online enticement of a minor. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum of 30 and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant engaged in a series of sexually explicit online communications with a 14-year-old Rochester child. The child’s father found the chats on the family’s computer and reported the activity to the Rochester Police, who in turn contacted agents of the FBI’s Cybercrimes Division.

The FBI assumed the child’s online identity and agreed to meet with Rivera. The defendant traveled to Rochester via train this morning with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the child. He was arrested without incident at the Rochester Bus Station by FBI agents and members of the Rochester Police Department.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson this afternoon. Rivera is being detained pending a bail hearing which is scheduled for March 23, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

“This case should is a good example of why is it so important for parents to constantly monitor their child’s computer usage, said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “It was the parent who alerted law enforcement to the actions of this alleged predator. As a result, the defendant was stopped before he could hurt this child or any others. Our office, along with our partners at the federal, state, and local level, will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety of all of our youth.”

The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; members of the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief James M. Sheppard; and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.