Troy Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempting to Entice a Minor to Engage in Sexual Acts
Attempted to Arrange a Sexual Encounter with a 12-Year-Old-Girl

ALBANY—Michael Heppelle, age 42, of Troy, New York, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for attempted online enticement of a minor on January 21, 2014, in Albany by Chief United States District Court Judge Gary L. Sharpe, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Andrew W. Vale, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Division. Heppelle, who had entered a guilty plea on September 19, 2013, was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release, to have no unsupervised contact with minors, and to register with the New York State Sex Offender Registry Program.

Between September 24, 2012 and October 3, 2012, Heppelle called a cooperating witness and offered to pay $500 if the cooperating witness could arrange for Heppelle to have a sexual encounter with a 12-year-old girl. The cooperating witness reported his/her concerns to law enforcement, who, in turn, told the cooperating witness to tell Heppelle that if he was serious about engaging in sexual acts with the 12-year-old girl, he could meet the child on October 3, 2012, at a particular time at a pre-arranged location in Rensselaer County. On October 3, 2012, Heppelle arrived at the pre-arranged location at the pre-determined time to meet with and engage in sexual acts with the girl. Heppelle was then arrested and was found to be in possession of $500 in U.S. currency, a cellular telephone, two condoms, and a lubricant typically used during sexual intercourse.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office.