U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney
District of Connecticut

Connecticut Financial Center
157 Church Street
New Haven, Connecticut 06510
www.usdoj.gov/usao/ct

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 17, 2007

CONTACT:
Tom Carson
Public Information Office
(203) 821-3722
(203) 996-1393 (cell)

Project Safe Childhood:

NORWICH MAN ARRESTED FOR USING INTERNET TO ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE IN SEX WITH A MINOR

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JONATHAN DESROSIER, 28, of Scotland Road, Norwich, Connecticut, was arrested yesterday, November 16, and a federal criminal Complaint was signed today charging him with using the Internet to attempt to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity.

According to the Complaint and affidavit, beginning in September 2007, DESROSIER is alleged to have engaged in numerous Internet conversations with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but who was, in fact, an undercover Milford Police officer working with the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force and posing as a 14-year-old girl. Through these Internet conversations, DESROSIER arranged with the "girl" to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.

Law enforcement officers arrested DESROSIER on Friday evening after he arrived at a bowling alley in Milford where he had previously arranged to meet the "girl."

DESROSIER will appear before United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven on Monday.

If DESROSIER is convicted of the charge of using the Internet to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity, he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a period of supervised release for as long as life, and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to have his matter presented to a grand jury and, in the event an indictment is returned, he is entitled to a trial at which it will be the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Milford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah P. Karwan.

The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force was formed in February 2003 to investigate crimes occurring over the Internet. These crimes include computer intrusion, Internet fraud, copyright violations, Internet threats and harassment and on-line crimes against children. The Task Force also provides computer forensic review services for participating agencies. The Task Force is housed in the main FBI office in New Haven, Connecticut. For more information about the Task Force, please contact the FBI at 203-777-6311.