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Press Release

New York man sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison for transporting a minor to engage in sexual activity

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A New York man was sentenced today to 17 and a half years in federal prison for transporting a minor from West Virginia to Virginia for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Ian Michael Cramer, 27, of Amherst, previously pleaded guilty to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. After Cramer is released from prison, he will be on federal supervised release for 25 years and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Cramer admitted that in September 2015, he used an app on his cell phone to persuade a 15-year-old from Cross Lanes to engage in sexual activity. During the evening hours of September 18, 2015, Cramer drove from Richmond, where he was residing at the time, to Cross Lanes and picked up the minor. He then drove the minor back to his apartment in Richmond, where the two of them engaged in sexual activity. Law enforcement arrived at Cramer’s apartment on September 20, 2015, and rescued the minor.

“My office has made it a priority to work with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute predators who exploit and abuse minors. This prison sentence should send a clear message that there are serious consequences for such behavior,” stated United States Attorney Carol Casto. “We will continue to use all of the tools available to us in order to protect children from predators and bring those who do commit such crimes to justice. I am grateful to the dedicated law enforcement officers for their commitment to keeping our children and our communities safe.”

The FBI, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, and the New York State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston is in charge of the prosecution. United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr., imposed the sentence.

This case is being prosecuted as part of an ongoing initiative of the United States Attorney’s Office to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse in the Southern District of West Virginia.

Updated January 18, 2017

Topic
Project Safe Childhood