Western Pennsylvania man looking at life behind bars after pleading guilty to enticing boy, 14

Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Pennsylvania, announced that a man from Ross Township, just a few miles north of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity.

Thomas Perry Stultz, age 37, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

From February 6 until about April 5, Stultz used his cell phone and the Internet to communicate with an undercover FBI agent, believing the agent to be a minor.  During those communications, Stultz attempted to persuade, induce, entice and coerce the agent – who he thought was a 14-year-old boy – to engage in illegal sexual activity with him.

According to the affidavit filed in the case, Stultz used the app Grindr and his cellphone to persuade the agent, posing as a 14-year-old boy, to engage in sexual activity from Feb. 6 until April 5.  Stultz sent the agent sexually explicit pictures of himself and asked the agent to send pictures.  ~ Trib Live

Stultz made several arrangements to meet with the purported minor that fell through. Each time, Stultz reinitiated contact with the undercover agent. During one conversation, Stultz reassured the purported minor, texting: “This isn’t pretend at all. I’m actually very interested in meeting you.”

On April 5, 2019, through text messages, Stultz made plans to meet with the minor. The plan was to go back to Stultz’s residence to engage in sexual activity. Law enforcement arrested Stultz as he arrived at the predetermined meeting location.

Stultz is looking at a possible total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Stultz’s sentencing is scheduled for March 30. Earlier today, a federal judge decreed that Stultz could be kept on home detention until his sentencing.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office wanted him held without bond, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

(Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania)

~ Posted by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter