Colorado Man Charged with Enticement of a Minor

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment today charging NATHANIEL SMITH, 29, of Aurora, Colo., with one count of enticement of a minor.

The indictment alleges that in January 2016, SMITH used a cell phone and Internet-based messaging and video chatting services to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.

SMITH has been detained in state custody since January 25, 2016, when he was arrested on related state charges in New London.

If convicted of enticement of a minor, SMITH faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New London Police Department and the Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.