Man Pleads Guilty to Traveling to Maryland to Engage in Sexual Activity with a Minor

Contacted 13-Year Old Victim Through a Social Networking Site

Gregory King, 28, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today in connection with contacting a 13-year-old girl over the Internet and traveling across state lines to engage in sexual activity with her.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein of the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the FBI’s Baltimore Division made the announcement.

King pleaded guilty to one count of coercion of a minor to engage in sexual activity and one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact with a minor.   He was initially charged by indictment on Feb. 14, 2014.

According to King’s plea agreement, on Oct. 9, 2013, he initiated a chat with a girl on a social networking site whose profile indicated that she was 13 years old.  Throughout October and November 2013, King and the victim exchanged sexually explicit photographs and engaged in sexually explicit conversations.  On Oct. 30, 2013, King chatted with the victim about coming to her house in Maryland, telling her that he would take a bus from Washington, D.C.  The victim provided King with her address, but King was not able to get to the victim’s house that night.   King continued to chat with the victim and on Nov. 21, 2013, shortly after the victim’s 14 th birthday, again discussed coming to her home.  King took a bus from Washington, D.C. on the same date and met the victim at her home, where he spent the night.  King was arrested on Jan. 19, 2014.

As part of his plea agreement, King must register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).   Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 15, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.   Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.   For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “resources” tab on the left of the page.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Laurel Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney LisaMarie Freitas of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristi O’Malley of the District of Maryland.