Description: Syracuse, New York criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with attempting to entice and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Joseph Swansbrough, age 34, of Ithaca, New York, admitted that, between September and October 2021, he exchanged sexually explicit messages online with an undercover officer posing as a 10-year-old child in an attempt to entice the child into engaging in sexual acts with him. Swansbrough also admitted that, on October 12, 2021, he traveled from his home in Tioga County to a prearranged meeting location in Broome County, New York, with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the 10-year-old child. Swansbrough was arrested upon arrival at the location and was found in possession of candy he had promised to bring to the child.

United States District Judge, Glenn T. Suddaby, also sentenced Swansbrough to a 25-year term of supervised release to begin after he serves his term of imprisonment. Swansbrough also will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Geoffrey J. L. Brown, Jessica N. Carbone, and Adrian S. LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood.

COERCION OR ENTICEMENT OF FEMALE WITH FORFEITURE ALLEGATION IN VIOLATION OF 18 U.S.C. 2422

"Section 2422(a) of Title 18 prohibits anyone from knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing or coercing an individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce with the purpose of engaging in prostitution or any criminal sexual activity, or attempting to do so, and imposes a maximum punishment of 10 years' imprisonment and/or a fine under Title 18.

Section 2422(b) of Title 18 provides that if the individual who has been persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced to engage in prostitution or other criminal sexual act is under the age of 18, then the penalty is 15 years imprisonment and/or a fine."

Outcome: The Defendant was sentenced on Count 1 of the Indictment to a term of imprisonment of 150 months and a term of supervised release of 25 years with standard and special conditions of supervision imposed. The Court recommends that the Defendant participate in sex offender treatment while incarcerated with the BOP. The Defendant does not have the ability to pay a fine or the additional special assessment, therefore, both are waived. A special assessment of $100 is imposed and due immediately. Defendant shall forfeit to the U.S. the items outlined in the Preliminary Order of Forfeiture. Defendant is remanded to the custody of the USMS.

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