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| U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney CONTACT: PRESS RELEASE April 3, 2009 DANIELSON MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ENTICEMENT OF A MINOR, CHILD PORNOGRAPHY POSSESSION CHARGES |
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Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STEVEN E. SYLVESTRE, 41, last residing in Danielson, pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to one count of using the Internet to attempt to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity, and one count of possession of child pornography. According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, beginning in August 2008, SYLVESTRE engaged in numerous Internet conversations with a person he believed to be a teenage girl under the age of 16, but who was, in fact, an undercover Milford Police officer working with the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force and posing as the girl. Through these Internet conversations, SYLVESTRE arranged with the “girl” to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. On the morning of October 6, 2008, law enforcement officers arrested SYLVESTRE after he arrived at a shopping plaza in Milford where he had previously arranged to meet the “girl.” Following his arrest, a search of SYLVESTRE’s personal computer revealed images and videos of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Judge Burns has scheduled sentencing for June 19, 2009, at which time SYLVESTRE faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. SYLVESTRE has been detained since his arrest. 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 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 Christopher W. Schmeisser. 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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