Courtesy of Snapchat
In December 2021, after Moretti was interviewed by the FBI, he contacted the child, this time via Snapchat, for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
By Michael V. Cusenza
A Forest Hills man has been charged with transporting a 13-year-old child across state lines to engage in sex, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
Manuel Moretti, 39, was arraigned on a six-count indictment charging him with Mann Act crimes stemming from the coercion of a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual activity with him on at least four occasions.
As set forth in the indictment and court filings, Moretti met a 13-year-old child on a social networking site in January of last year. He then arranged for the child to travel across state lines to Moretti’s residence in Forest Hills on several occasions over a four-month period between January and April 2021 for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Moretti also provided the child a fraudulent identification document to facilitate future sexual encounters with the child. In December 2021, after Moretti was interviewed by the FBI, he contacted the child, this time via Snapchat, a different social networking site, for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
Photo Courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of NY
“These allegations serve as a reminder of the dangers to our children from online predators and the importance of being aware of whom our children are communicating with online,” Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Peace said.
“These allegations serve as a reminder of the dangers to our children from online predators and the importance of being aware of whom our children are communicating with online,” said Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.
If convicted of all counts, Moretti faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
“Cyber space may not seem real to some children, or even parents, but it poses a real danger as we allege in this investigation,” stated FBI NY Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael Driscoll. “Unfortunately, we can’t stop these crimes from happening because the internet allows sexual predators direct access to victims. We’re asking parents to start a conversation with their children about being safe online. The FBI New York Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force believes Mr. Moretti may have victimized others and we’re asking anyone with information to call us at 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
