Pittsburgh Man Charged with Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

PITTSBURGH, PA - A criminal complaint has been filed in federal court against a resident of Pittsburgh, Pa., charging him with coercion and enticement of a minor, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The one-count Criminal Complaint named Brian L. Turek, 38, as the sole defendant. Turek made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday. He is scheduled to have a preliminary examination and detention hearing on Friday, April 26, 2019, at 11 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Maureen P. Kelly.

According to the Criminal Complaint, from on or about February 6, 2019 through April 24, 2019, Turek used the Internet and a cellphone to knowingly attempt to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in sexual activity. During that time period, Turek exchanged messages with an individual, whom he believed to be 13 years of age, to arrange a meeting to engage in sexual activity. When Turek arrived for the meeting at a Dormont T-station, he was taken into custody. Turek had been unknowingly communicating with an undercover FBI agent.

Assistant United States Attorney Shanicka L. Kennedy is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The law provides for a minimum term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years and a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case.

A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant may not be prosecuted unless, within 30 days, a grand jury has found probable cause to believe that the defendant is guilty of an offense.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and

local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.