Boston Man Guilty of Failing to Register as Sex Offender
BOSTON, MA – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to failing to register as a sex offender, a federal crime that has serious consequences. Lance Pona, 27, was arrested and charged in April 2018 and has been in custody since.
Pona is required to register as a sex offender in Massachusetts due to a 2009 conviction in Colorado for unlawful sexual contact. After leaving Colorado, Pona lived in the Boston area for approximately five years without reporting his presence to the authorities.
The crime of failure to register as a sex offender is a serious offense that can result in a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to lifetime supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and John Gibbons, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Pona’s failure to register as a sex offender is a clear example of the importance of this initiative.
Pona is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19, 2018, by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton. The outcome of this case serves as a reminder of the consequences of failing to register as a sex offender and the importance of protecting our communities from those who would harm our children.
Lance Pona, 27, of Boston, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender, a federal crime that has serious consequences. He is required to register as a sex offender in Massachusetts due to a 2009 conviction in Colorado for unlawful sexual contact.
Defendant: Lance Pona
Criminal Charge: Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
City and State: Boston, Massachusetts
Arrest Date: April 2018
Sentence: No greater than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000
Dollar Amount: $250,000
This article is part of our ongoing coverage of sex crimes in the United States. If you or someone you know has been affected by a sex crime, please seek help and support.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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