Home Buffalo Press Releases 2011 Former Mailman Sentenced for Online Enticement of a Minor
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Former Mailman Sentenced for Online Enticement of a Minor

U.S. Attorney’s Office January 14, 2011
  • Western District of New York (716) 843-5700

ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Joseph Clark, 45, of Elmira, NY, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by 15 years’ supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge David G. Larimer for online enticement of a minor.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who handled the case, stated that Clark, a former United States Postal Worker, engaged in a series of sexually explicit text messages with an 11-year-old girl using a cellular telephone. Clark met the victim through one of his own children, who was in the same grade as the victim. Between August and September 2009, Clark sent hundreds of text messages to the victim, called her repeatedly on her cellular phone, and brought her over to his house, often keeping her there until late at night. In addition to this child, Clark invited other young girls from the neighborhood over to his home.

The victim became uncomfortable with the defendant when his text messages and conduct became sexual and she told her parents. They contacted the New York State Police and permitted investigators to assume the child’s identity online. That night, Clark engaged in a series of text messages with who he believed was the victim, but in reality, was troopers using her cellular phone. During the exchange of messages, Clark attempted to persuade the child to meet him to have sex. Once a meeting was arranged, investigators tracked Clark to a local Wal-Mart where he was arrested as he left the store.

Clark pled guilty to sexual abuse in Chemung County in July 2010 for sexual contact with another young girl who was discovered during this investigation. He is currently serving a state prison sentence for that charge. The federal sentence will be served consecutive to the state sentence. In sentencing the defendant, Judge Larimer called Clark "a parent's worst nightmare."

United States Attorney Hochul stated, “This case demonstrates that parents must be vigilant when it comes to their children’s computer and cell phone usage. The victim and her family in this case did exactly what all should do—report any concerns to law enforcement officials.”

The sentencing was the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James H. Robertson, and troopers from the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation - Horseheads Barracks, under the direction of Captain Mark Crosier.

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