United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force: NEW BRITAIN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO 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 JOSHUA L. NOONAN, age 27, of 108 Stewart Street, New Britain, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today to a one-count Information charging him with using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice a juvenile to engage in sexual activity. United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz accepted NOONAN's plea of guilty this afternoon in New Haven federal court. Following his guilty plea, NOONAN surrendered to the United States Marshal and was taken into custody.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, beginning on or about May 3, 2004, NOONAN engaged in a series of online internet conversations with who he thought was a 14-year-old boy, but was, in fact, an undercover agent assigned to the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force. During the course of these online communications, NOONAN enticed the undercover agent to meet with him for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Today, NOONAN admitted that on May 19, 2004, he drove his 1997 Plymouth Voyager from his residence to a New Britain Wal-Mart store where NOONAN had arranged to meet the person he thought was the young boy. NOONAN was arrested as he walked towards the store in the Wal-Mart parking lot. A search of NOONAN's vehicle resulted in the recovery of sexual paraphernalia that NOONAN had described in his online chats with the undercover agent.

As part of his guilty plea, NOONAN has agreed to forfeit the 1997 Plymouth Voyager to the Government.

When he is sentenced by Judge Kravitz on September 27, 2004, NOONAN faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and a maximum fine of $250,000.

This case was investigated by the District of Connecticut Crimes Against Children Working Group, including agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Britain Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force includes agents from the FBI, the United States Postal Service, the Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Chief State's Attorney's Office, Defense Criminal Investigation Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, United States Secret Service, and detectives from the Glastonbury, New Britain, Milford and New Haven Police Departments.

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