United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force: NEW HAMPSHIRE MAN WHO USED INTERNET TO ATTEMPT TO ENTICE A MINOR TO ENGAGE IN SEX SENTENCED TO 65 MONTHS

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, was sentenced today in New Haven to 65 months of imprisonment, following his conviction on charges of attempting to use the internet to persuade and entice a minor to engage in prohibited sexual activity. In addition to the term of imprisonment, United States District Judge Janet B. Arterton ordered SWEENEY to serve a period of ten years of supervised release after he is released from prison, and required him to register with all applicable sex offender registries. While SWEENEY is on supervised release, Judge Arterton further ordered him to refrain from visiting areas where children congregate, and to allow the United States Probation Office to monitor his computer usage and periodically search his residence. The computer equipment that SWEENEY used in the crime has been forfeited to the Government.

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 engaged in additional 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. SWEENEY has been detained without bond since his arrest.

“The federal penalties are severe for those who, through the use of a computer, seek to abuse or exploit children in any way,” United States Attorney O’Connor stated. “The Computer Crimes Task Force continues to police the internet, and this Office will vigorously prosecute every offender.”

U.S. Attorney O’Connor noted that this case resulted from the efforts of the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes 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, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, United States Secret Service, and detectives from the Glastonbury, New Britain, Milford and New Haven Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John A. Danaher III.

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