January 22, 2015

Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Enticing a Minor to Engage in Sexual Conduct

Earlier today at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Andrew Goodman pled guilty to soliciting and enticing a minor victim to engage in sexual conduct. The victim was between 12 and 15 years of age during the time of the abuse.

The guilty plea was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Goodman began his sexual abuse in 2006 when the victim was 12 years old. Over the next several years, Goodman sexually assaulted the victim multiple times a week. At the plea proceeding, Goodman admitted that he communicated with the victim by telephone regarding his intention to engage in sexual activity. Previously, Goodman had been convicted in New York State court of 48 counts of sexually abusing the same minor, as well as second victim, and for those crimes served two years in prison.

“The defendant Goodman systematically and deliberately stole the victim’s childhood through repeated sexual assaults over the course of several years. He will now be held to account for this violation,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. Ms. Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the agency that led the government’s investigation, and thanked the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in this case.

Today’s plea proceeding took place before United States District Judge Margo K. Brodie. When sentenced, Goodman faces a mandatory term of at least ten years in prison, as well as forfeiture, restitution, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 24, 2015. Goodman has been in federal custody since his arrest on the federal charges in July 2012.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler J. Smith and Ameet Kabrawala.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to protect children by combatting the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.