United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force: NEW HAMPSHIRE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTING TO USE THE INTERNET TO ENTICE A MINOR TO ENGAGE IN SEX

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRADLEY SWEENEY, age 46, of 35 Abbott Street, Apartment #5, Nashua, New Hampshire, has waived indictment and pleaded guilty today to a one-count Information charging him with attempting to use the internet to persuade and entice a minor to engage in prohibited sexual activity. United Stated District Judge Janet B. Arterton accepted SWEENEY's plea of guilty this afternoon in New Haven.

According to an affidavit filed in support of SWEENEY's arrest on February 9, 2004, on the afternoon of January 12, 2004, SWEENEY, using the America Online screen name "Bradsweeneys," engaged in internet chat discussions with someone he believed was a 13-year old girl. The individual with whom SWEENEY began to communicate was, in reality, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force. SWEENEY sent an Instant Message to the special agent, identified himself as "Brad" and stated he was 45-years-old. When the special agent responded that his persona's age was 13, SWEENEY stated "I like younger." During the course of this initial contact, SWEENEY described various sexual acts that he wanted to perform with the girl and offered to meet her in Connecticut and drive her back to stay with him in New Hampshire.

The affidavit further states that on 11 separate days from January 15, 2004 to February 6, 2004, SWEENEY continued to engage in internet discussions with the individual he thought was a 13-year-old girl. During these discussions, SWEENEY continued to discuss in lengthy and explicit terms the nature of sexual activities he wished to engage in with the girl persona, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. SWEENEY indicated during these discussions that he wanted the girl persona to become his sex slave. SWEENEY also promised the girl persona that she would have a place to stay for the rest of her life and that he would marry her. SWEENEY made plans to meet and pick up his intended victim at 9:00 a.m. on the morning of February 9, 2004, in front of a coffee shop in downtown New Haven, and he was arrested that morning by members of the Computer Crimes Task Force and the New Haven Police outside of the designated coffee shop meeting place in New Haven.

"By policing the internet, the federal government and our state and local law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to protect Connecticut's children," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated.

SWEENEY has been detained without bond since his arrest. SWEENEY is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Arterton on July 1, 2004 when he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, as much as a lifetime term of supervised release following his imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. As part of his plea agreement, SWEENEY has agreed to forfeit the computer equipment he used to engage in his unlawful communications.

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 Jeffrey A. Meyer is prosecuting this 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