United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov

March 4, 2008

Project Safe Childhood: BRISTOL MAN ADMITS USING INTERNET TO ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE IN SEX WITH A MINOR

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SCOTT W. LAPE, 40, of Bristol, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to one count of attempting to use an interstate facility to transmit information about a minor.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, in April 2007, LAPE engaged in numerous Internet conversations with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, but who was, in fact, an undercover Connecticut law enforcement officer. Through these Internet conversations, LAPE attempted to initiate the transmission of the name and electronic mail address of another individual who, in fact, was the undercover officer, with the intent to entice the person to engage in criminal sexual activity.

LAPE was arrested by law enforcement officers in Waterbury on April 27, 2007. He remains detained pending sentencing before Chief United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny, which is scheduled for May 29, 2008. LAPE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a period of supervised release for as long as life, and a fine of up to $250,000.

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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case has been investigated by the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

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.

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