Floyd Wood, 48, of DeRuyter, New York, pleaded guilty today to attempting to entice a 12-year-old girl into a sexual encounter — a crime that exposed the chilling reach of online predators.
Wood admitted in court that in April 2016, he engaged in text messages with someone he believed was a female acquaintance, arranging to meet her and her 12-year-old daughter at a hotel in Syracuse. His plan: to have sex with both the woman and her young daughter. In reality, he was communicating with law enforcement officers posing as the mother.
On the day of the planned meeting, Wood was seen at an adult novelty store purchasing items he intended to use during the encounter. He arrived at the designated Syracuse hotel expecting to meet the girl and her mother. Instead, FBI agents and New York State Police were waiting. He was arrested on the spot.
The case was led by the FBI’s Syracuse Resident Agency and the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Fletcher is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation through coordinated federal, state, and local action.
Wood will be sentenced by United States District Judge David N. Hurd on May 4, 2017. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison, up to life behind bars, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release ranging from 5 years to life. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
“This case is a stark reminder that predators who use the internet to target children will be hunted down and prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian. “Law enforcement is watching — and we are closing the net.”
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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