New Castle Man Admits Travel for Sex with Minor

Bradley Richard Moore, 44, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, federal prosecutors announced today. The admission caps a disturbing undercover sting that exposed Moore’s willingness to act on fantasies of incest and child abuse.

Moore admitted in court filings that he posted an explicit ad on Craigslist seeking to “participate in real incest.” That message was intercepted by a Special Agent from the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General operating undercover. Posing as an adult male, the agent responded, claiming he was the father of a 12-year-old boy open to sexual contact with Moore. The exchange quickly turned explicit, with Moore expressing eagerness and making plans to meet.

On October 14, 2017, Moore knowingly traveled from Ohio into Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, fully intending to carry out a sexual encounter with the child. He was intercepted by law enforcement before any physical contact occurred. The investigation was led jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General.

U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for June 13, 2018, at 9 a.m. Moore now faces up to 30 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and mandatory lifetime supervised release. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the final penalty will reflect the severity of the offense and any prior criminal history.

Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting the case for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Authorities emphasized that Moore’s attempted crime was not hypothetical—he took concrete steps to cross state lines and meet a child for sex, making the charge both legally and morally significant.

The case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a national Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program unites federal, state, and local agencies to track, arrest, and convict predators who use the internet to target minors. More information is available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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