Description: Buffalo, New York criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Between October 8, 2020, and January 9, 2021, Michael Mesko, age 52, of Cheektowaga, New York, engaged in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old minor female (Victim 1), who was mentally disabled. Mesko communicated with Victim 1 via text message and mobile chat applications. On February 16, 2021, Mesko fled with Victim 1 to the State of Pennsylvania, causing an Amber Alert to be issued for Victim 1. After Mesko’s vehicle was spotted by a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper, Mesko fled at a high rate of speed and had to be forcibly stopped and taken into custody.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Keith Glass; the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gould; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.

18:2422.F COERCION OR ENTICEMENT
(1)

(a) Whoever knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, to engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

(b) Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.

Outcome: Defendant is sentenced to 360 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, to run concurrent with the sentence to be imposed by Niagara County Court Docket No. 70614-21. Upon release from imprisonment, Defendant to be placed on Supervised Release for a term of life. Terms and conditions of Supervised Release shall be set forth in the Judgment of Conviction. $100 Special Penalty Assessment imposed.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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