United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force: FLORIDA MAN SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR USING THE INTERNET TO ENTICE A MINOR TO ENGAGE IN SEX

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC L. HOPKINS, age 32, of Margate, Florida, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 84 months imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. On October 7, 2003, HOPKINS was charged in a two-count Indictment alleging that he had traveled in interstate commerce for the purpose of attempting to engage in sexual acts with a juvenile, and, in the second count, with using the internet to attempt to persuade and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. HOPKINS pleaded guilty to the second count on January 12, 2004.

In sentencing HOPKINS, Judge Underhill stated, "The public is not safe with you free to do this again."

When HOPKINS completes his term of imprisonment, Judge Underhill ordered him to abide by a series of special conditions while on supervised release. The conditions include requirements that HOPKINS be subject to polygraph examinations after he is released; that he not access the internet without permission from the United States Probation Office; that his computer usage be monitored by the Probation Office; that he have no unsupervised contact with minors; that he not loiter within one hundred yards of parks, playgrounds, video arcades, or other locations frequented by minors; and that he agree that his premises or vehicles be subject to search by probation officers. HOPKINS could be returned to prison if he were to violate any of these conditions.

HOPKINS traveled from Florida to Georgia on October 2, 2003, for the purpose of attempting to travel to Connecticut in order to engage in sexual activity with a minor. HOPKINS was arrested in Georgia on the evening of October 2, 2003. The Government stated in court that HOPKINS was arrested once he entered Georgia because he had indicated, in internet communications with an undercover officer, that he had planned to visit at least one other child while on his way to Connecticut. Rather than take the risk that HOPKINS actually contact another child in the course of his travel, agents arrested him once he crossed the state line into Georgia. HOPKINS has been detained without bond since his arrest. After the arrest, agents searched HOPKINS' apartment in Florida and discovered photographs and videotapes of HOPKINS engaged in sexual activity with minors. HOPKINS is now under investigation in other jurisdictions.

"This harsh sentence and the strict terms of supervised release should serve as a warning to all individuals who attempt to use the internet to prey on children: Get mental health counseling quickly or prepare yourself to spend a very long time in federal prison," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "The FBI-CCCTF and this Office will continue to work together to help protect Connecticut's children."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor noted that this case resulted from the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's multi-agency Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, and praised all of its members, including agents from the FBI, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Chief State's Attorney's Office, Defense Criminal Investigation Service, United States Secret Service, and detectives from the Glastonbury, Madison, New Britain, and Milford Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney John A. Danaher III prosecuted the case.

The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force was formed in February 2003 to investigate crimes occurring over the internet. These crimes include computer intrusion, internet fraud, copyright violations, internet threats and harassment and on-line crimes against children. The Task Force also provides computer forensic review services for participating agencies. The Task Force is housed in the main FBI office in New Haven, Connecticut. For more information about the Task Force, please contact the FBI at 203-777-6311 or via e-mail at ifcc.nh@fbi.gov.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov