U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney

District of Connecticut

PRESS RELEASE

February 26, 2009    

BRISTOL MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR USING INTERNET TO ATTEMPT
TO ENGAGE IN SEX WITH A MINOR

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SCOTT W. LAPE, 41, of Bristol, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for using the Internet to attempt to engage in sex with a minor.  On March 4, 2008, LAPE pleaded guilty 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 entice the “girl” to engage in criminal sexual activity.

LAPE was arrested by law enforcement officers in Waterbury on April 27, 2007.  He has been detained since his arrest.

Following his release from prison, LAPE will be required to register as a sex offender.  As special conditions of his 15-year-term of supervised release, the United States Probation Office is authorized to monitor LAPE’s computer use and conduct random searches of his residence, automobile and workplace.  Also, LAPE must not have any unsupervised contact with children who are under the age of 18.

Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy 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 was investigated by the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Waterbury Police Department.  The case was 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.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.