Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the arrest and the filing of federal charges yesterday against JEFFREY WEBER. The Complaint charges that WEBER communicated with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl via email and text messages, and made plans to meet the girl at a diner in Manhattan and then go to her apartment to engage in sexual activity. WEBER was arrested yesterday when he arrived at the designated meeting place to meet the girl, and was presented before United States Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman in Manhattan federal court.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged, Jeffrey Weber, a home-school tutor who has constant interaction with children, made arrangements through text messaging and emails to meet with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. Thankfully he was corresponding with an undercover law enforcement officer and not a young girl, but his alleged intentions are no less insidious. This Office, along with our partners at the NYPD, remain committed to keeping child predators off the streets.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said: “The suspect in this case—a 59-year-old Long Island man—is accused of sending sexually-explicit texts and emails to an investigator posing as a 13-year-old girl. But this crime wasn't confined to cyberspace. The man was arrested yesterday at a diner in Manhattan, where his plan was to meet the underage girl and take her elsewhere for sex. I want to thank the members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, whose expertise identified and put an end to this predator’s activities.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court:[1]
Between January 30, 2018, and February 14, 2018, WEBER, using email and text messages, engaged in sexually explicit communications with a law enforcement agent who was acting in an undercover capacity and posing as a 13-year-old girl. During these communications, WEBER discussed various sexual acts he wished to perform on the girl and made a plan to meet the girl at a diner in Manhattan and to then go to the girl’s nearby apartment for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. On February 14, 2018, Weber was arrested at the diner where he planned to meet the girl. In an email with who he thought was the 13-year-old girl, WEBER said that he was employed as a tutor, working in the homes of at-risk youth.
WEBER, 59, of the Seaford, New York, is charged with one count of attempted enticement, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge
Mr. Berman praised the NYPD’s Computer Crime Squad, which is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, for their outstanding investigative work.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
