Date: 10-20-2014

Case Style: United States of America v. Michael Angel Gutierrez

Case Number: 1:14-mj-00546-JMF

Judge: James E. Boasberg

Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Plaintiff's Attorney: Ari Redbord

Defendant's Attorney: David Walker Bos - FPD

Description: WASHINGTON – Michael Angel Gutierrez, 50, of Lorton, Va., pled guilty to a federal charge of traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Andrew G. McCabe, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Gutierrez entered the guilty plea in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Honorable James E. Boasberg scheduled sentencing for Jan. 8, 2015. Gutierrez faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $250,000.

According to the government's evidence, on Aug. 28, 2014, Gutierrez contacted an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, who had posted an ad on a social network site. Over the next few days, Gutierrez engaged in e-mail, phone, and text message conversations with the undercover officer, whom the defendant believed was the father of an under-aged girl. During this period of time, Gutierrez arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child.

On Sept. 3, 2014, Gutierrez traveled from his apartment in Virginia to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C. When he arrived at the meeting place, he was arrested.

This case was brought was part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov

In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge McCabe, and Chief Lanier praised the work of the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord, who is prosecuting the case.

Outcome: See above

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: