Ithaca Man Arrested for Attempting to Entice and Coerce Minors into Sex

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jeffrey Blake, age 49, of Ithaca, New York, was arraigned yesterday on a criminal complaint charging him with attempting to entice and coerce two minors into a sexual act.

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

The complaint charges Blake with attempting to entice and coerce two minor females, whom he believed to be 9 years old and 13 years old, to engage in various sexual acts with him.  The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charge filed against Blake carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  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.

Blake was arraigned yesterday in Johnson City, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks, and detained pending further proceedings.

This case is being investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sahar L. Amandolare.