New Jersey Man Pleads Not Guilty to Transporting Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

PROVIDENCE, RI—Daniel Berger, 27, of Haskell, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence, Rhode Island, today to a federal indictment charging him with one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of the FBI; Portsmouth, Rode Island Acting Police Chief Jeffrey Furtado; and Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

According to information presented to the court, it is alleged that on July 24, 2013, Berger traveled from New Jersey to Rhode Island to meet with a minor female he befriended on the Internet. It is alleged that the defendant transported the minor to his residence in Haskell, New Jersey, with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Responding to an Amber Alert issued in Rhode Island for the young girl, local, state, and federal law enforcement in Rhode Island and New Jersey worked collaboratively and located the victim in New Jersey. FBI agents from Newark assisted by local and state law enforcement officers recovered the victim shortly after midnight at Berger’s residence.

Berger was detained in New Jersey on a federal criminal complaint issued in the District of Rhode Island on a charge of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He was transported to Rhode Island on July 29, 2013, by the United States Marshals Service and was ordered detained following an initial appearance on July 30, 2013, in U.S. District Court in Providence.

An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, Berger faces statutory penalties of 10 years to life in federal prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen G. Dambruch and Milind M. Shah.

Portsmouth Police, Rhode Island State Police, and FBI agents from Providence and Newark, New Jersey, were assisted by the New Jersey State Police and officers from the Ringwood, Wanaque, Paterson, and Clifton, New Jersey, Police Departments.