Clifton Park Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Kirkland, age 30, of Clifton Park, New York, pled guilty today to the attempted online enticement of a minor.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Kirkland admitted that on August 11, 2022, he exchanged sexually explicit text messages with someone he believed was an adult offering the sexual services of a 12-year old girl in an attempt to entice the child into engaging in sexual acts with him.  Kirkland also admitted that on August 11, 2022, he travelled to a hotel in Saratoga County, New York, with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the 12-year-old girl.  Kirkland was arrested by law enforcement shortly after arriving at the location.

At sentencing on April 11, 2024, before Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe, Kirkland faces at least 10 years and up to a life in prison, as well as a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life.  The court may also impose a fine, restitution, and forfeiture of the smartphone Kirkland used to commit his offense.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.  Kirkland will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The FBI’s Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force and Capital Region Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case. Each task force is comprised of FBI Special Agents, as well as state and local police investigators, including from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen J. Vickey is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.  Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.