Ohio Man Tried to BUY a 10-Year-Old Girl

ALLIANCE, OH – A Cuyahoga Falls man is facing federal charges after allegedly attempting to purchase a 10-year-old girl. Robert W. Thomas, 36, was arrested January 11, 2014, after responding to an online posting and agreeing to a meeting to “buy” a child for $400.

The Alliance Police Department initiated the investigation after Thomas posted online seeking someone willing to arrange a “marriage” with their daughter. An undercover officer with the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force responded, engaging Thomas in online conversations. The conversations quickly revealed Thomas’s horrifying intent – to obtain the child for sexual exploitation. The officer arranged a meeting in Alliance, presenting Thomas with what he believed was a 10-year-old girl.

As Thomas approached the officer’s vehicle with $400 cash in hand, he was immediately taken into custody. He was booked into the Stark County Jail on a staggering $2 million bond. The Alliance Police Department was assisted by the FBI and the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department in both the arrest and a subsequent search of Thomas’s residence.

Federal prosecutors quickly moved to file charges, authorizing a warrant for Thomas on January 14, 2014, charging him with one count of Title 18 U.S.C. 2251 A(b)(2)(A) – the selling or buying of children. Officials stressed the gravity of the offense prompted the decision to pursue federal prosecution.

“This case is the result of outstanding investigative work completed by the Alliance Police Department and its partners,” stated Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Mr. Thomas should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and these federal charges will ensure justice is served. Law enforcement will continue to proactively and aggressively pursue predators that intend to harm our children.” U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach added, “The conduct laid out in these charges is disturbing. Our office remains committed to working with the FBI and all our law enforcement partners to defend our children and fight human trafficking.”

Local officials lauded the collaborative effort. Jennifer L. Arnold, law director for the city of Alliance, commended the agencies involved, and Alliance Police Chief Scott C. Griffith highlighted the work of Lieutenant John Jenkins, Detective Matt Shatzer, Officer Hope Rummell, and several other officers. It is important to remember that a complaint is merely an accusation, and Thomas is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Sentencing, if convicted, will be determined by the court and could be less than the statutory maximum.

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