Norwich Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Using Internet to Attempt to Engage in Sex with a Minor

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JONATHAN DESROSIER, 29, of Norwich, was sentenced today to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by eight years of supervised release, for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor. On October 8, 2008, DESROSIER pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to use an interstate facility to transmit information about a minor.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, beginning in September 2007, DESROSIER engaged in numerous Internet conversations with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but who was, in fact, an undercover Milford Police officer working with the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force and posing as a 14-year-old girl. Through these Internet conversations, DESROSIER arranged with the “girl” to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.

Law enforcement officers arrested DESROSIER on the evening of November 16, 2007, after he arrived at a bowling alley in Milford where he had previously arranged to meet the “girl.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Milford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah P. Karwan.

The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force was formed in February 2003 to investigate crimes occurring over the Internet. These crimes include computer intrusion, Internet fraud, copyright violations, Internet threats and harassment and on-line crimes against children. The Task Force also provides computer forensic review services for participating agencies. The Task Force is housed in the main FBI office in New Haven, Connecticut. For more information about the Task Force, please contact the FBI at 203-777-6311.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.