Yesterday at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Fausto Bonifaz pled guilty to coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The guilty plea was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Bonifaz began to sexually abuse the victim in late 2009 when she was 12 years old. Over the course of the next year, he sexually assaulted her on a weekly basis at the victim’s home at the Fort Hamilton Army Base. At the plea proceeding, Bonifaz admitted that he sexually abused the victim. Bonifaz was a civilian who was admitted to the base as a visitor because he was friends with the victim’s mother. The defendant’s actions were uncovered years later when the victim reported the abuse to a counselor.

In announcing the guilty plea, United States Attorney Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the agency responsible for leading the government’s investigation.

The plea proceeding took place before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold. When sentenced, Bonifaz faces a mandatory minimum term of at least ten years in prison and up to a maximum of life, as well as restitution, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiana Demas.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to protect children by combatting the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

The Defendant:

Name: FAUSTO BONIFAZ
Age: 39
Queens, New York