ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded
guilty in federal court to charges of sex trafficking of a child and conspiracy
to commit sex trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced
today.
Thomas Patrick Petoff, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts
before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised
that from March 2015 to October 2015, Petoff and a co-defendant, Devonte Lucas,
knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, advertised and
maintained two minor victims who engaged in commercial sex acts at the behest
of Petoff and Lucas. Petoff’s illegal activity was ultimately stopped when
members of the Millcreek Police Department observed Lucas transport a minor
female to a Millcreek motel after the Millcreek officers, acting in an
undercover capacity, had set up a meeting at the motel with the victim via an
Internet advertisement that had been placed by Petoff.
Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for April 8, 2019 at 3:00
p.m.. The law provides for a total sentence of life in prison, a fine of
$500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence
imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal
history, if any, of the defendant. As part of his plea, Petoff has agreed to a
sentence of fourteen years in jail to be followed by ten years of supervised
release.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is
prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Millcreek Police
Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Petoff.
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