Cheektowaga Man Arrested And Charged With Enticing A Minor For Sex

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Andrew Reiner, 28, of Cheektowaga, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with enticing a minor for sexual activity.  The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of $250,000.

“This case is yet another example of why it is so important for parents and guardians to monitor the technology used by their children,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “This is key in the battle against predators lurking online.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in September 2016, the mother and grandparents of a 15 year old girl alerted the Federal bureau of Investigation that their daughter and granddaughter was possibly enticed online by the defendant into sexual activity.

The family turned over the victim’s cellular telephone and tablet to special agents. A search of the devices found that beginning in June 2016, Reiner communicated with the victim via cellphone applications Kik and Skout. After learning the victim’s age, the defendant texted the victim messages of a sexual nature in order to entice her into sexual activity. Through communications via the cellphone applications and email, Reiner convinced the victim to sneak out of her home late at night to meet him for sexual activity on more than one occasion. The defendant also attempted to entice the victim to ask her friends to participate in sexual activity. After the victim’s cellular service was turned off, Reiner continued to attempt to contact the victim through early September.

If any members of the public have any information regarding this defendant, please call the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 716-856-7800 and ask for a member of the Child Exploitation Task Force. 

Reiner made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and is being held pending a detention hearing on September 27, 2016.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Violent Crimes Against Children program.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.