Bryan White Pleads Guilty to Luring 13-Year-Old for Sex

Bryan White, 39, of New London, pleaded guilty today to attempting to entice a 13-year-old girl to travel from New Jersey to Connecticut for sex—a crime that carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison. The confession, entered before U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford, marks the end of a years-long investigation into a predatory online campaign fueled by explicit texts and chillingly specific plans.

Court records reveal White used a cell phone and Chat Bazaar, a video chatting platform, to communicate with the victim between June and July 2016. Despite the girl repeatedly stating she was 13, White replied, “age is just a number to deny u things,” and openly declared himself a “child lover.” The exchanges quickly turned graphic, with White pressuring the minor to come to Connecticut so they could engage in sexual acts.

The scheme unraveled when the girl’s father discovered the messages on her phone on June 16, 2016, and alerted police. Law enforcement swiftly stepped in, with an undercover officer assuming the girl’s identity to continue the digital dialogue. Over the next week, White repeatedly urged the fake minor to make the trip, even detailing what he’d wear and what he’d bring—condoms and pina colada-flavored wine coolers.

On July 5, 2016, White showed up at the New London bus station at the arranged time, dressed in a yellow “MICHIGAN” shirt just as promised. He was carrying a condom and two alcoholic drinks when federal agents moved in and arrested him. The precision of his plan—down to the outfit and props—laid bare the depth of his intent.

White now faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life behind bars after pleading guilty to one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. Sentencing is scheduled for May 23, 2017. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest.

The case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Burlington County (N.J.) Prosecutor’s Office, the Florence (N.J.) Township Police Department, the New London Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford is prosecuting the case, underscoring the multi-jurisdictional effort to bring predators like White to justice before they can act on their threats.

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