Appleton Man Sentenced to 13 Years In Federal Prison for Child Enticement

Acting United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on November 29, 2021, Neil A. Frank (age: 36) of Appleton, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison for seeking to entice a child into having sexual intercourse.

According to court records, in May 2020, Frank began using a popular social media site to communicate with a 15-year-old located in Appleton. During these interactions, Frank requested graphic digital images and expressed his desire to have sexual intercourse with the child. On May 18, 2020, after Frank drove to the apartment complex where he believed the child lived, he was arrested by an undercover police officer with the Fox Valley Metro Police Department.

At the time of his arrest, Frank was a registered sex offender in the State of Wisconsin due to a prior conviction for attempted possession of child pornography in Outagamie County in 2012.

At sentencing, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge, Frank’s prior record, and the need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, Frank will spend five years on supervised release.  He will continue to be required to register as a sexual offender.

This case was investigated by the Fox Valley Metro Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

# #  #

For Additional Information Contact:

Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales 414-297-1700

Follow us on Twitter