Glenville Man Charged with Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Brendan Chandler, age 34, of Glenville, New York, was arrested yesterday and charged today with attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to a criminal complaint, Chandler used the Kik messaging application to solicit sex from someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl, but who was actually a New York State Police Investigator acting in an undercover capacity.  Chandler was arrested in a parking lot in Albany County, where he thought he was going to pick up the girl in his car so that they could have sex.  The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Chandler appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered him detained pending further proceedings. 

If convicted, Chandler faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison. He also faces a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.  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.

This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.

This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.