Daniel Jason Wnek, Coercion and/or Enticement of a Minor, Ohio 2017

Grimy Times has uncovered a chilling case of a Canadian man who targeted a vulnerable 11-year-old girl from Ohio through social media. Daniel Jason Wnek, 27, of Toronto, has been charged with one count of coercion and/or enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, Wnek contacted the victim, H.M., via Instagram in 2017, posing as a 14-year-old boy. He eventually switched their communication to Snapchat, where he sent the girl messages of a sexual nature, including explicit requests and images.

Wnek’s attempts to coerce the girl continued even after she had reached out to her family for help. On November 3, 2017, another person posing as H.M. engaged in a Snapchat conversation with Wnek, who continued to solicit sex and send explicit images. This conversation was all staged by law enforcement to catch the predator in the act.

Wnek’s plan to travel to Disney World in Florida for his birthday turned out to be his downfall. He was arrested after traveling from Toronto to Orlando on November 13, 2017. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office worked together to bring Wnek to justice.

The case highlights the ever-present danger of online predators targeting children through social media. ‘This case demonstrates how predators will target our children over social media by posing as people different from who they truly are,’ said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

Wnek is currently facing federal charges, and if convicted, his sentence will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to this case. The investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.

An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.