A Florida man is facing a severe prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges related to an attempt to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and transporting child pornography. Michael Fegley Jr., 31, from Tampa, admitted to the crimes in a New York federal court, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York.
As part of his plea, Fegley acknowledged he had traveled from Florida to the Northern District of New York with the intent to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old child. Along with him, he carried approximately 1,000 images and videos depicting child pornography that he had previously obtained on the internet. The announcement was made by Sarcone and Erin Keegan, the Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), prominently highlighting the interstate nature of the crimes.
At his sentencing scheduled for April 27, 2026, Fegley is facing a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment and could receive up to 20 years for the child pornography charge. Additionally, he faces a maximum of 30 years for the travel charge. Other penalties include a supervised release for at least five years and possibly for life, restitution to victims, property destruction involved in the offenses, fines, and he will be required to register as a sex offender.
Focusing on the gravity of Fegley's actions, Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated, "The defendant’s admitted conduct is deeply disturbing. He not only traveled across multiple states to meet a purported child for unlawful sexual conduct but he brought with him vile depictions of the sexual abuse of children." In a pursuit for justice, Sarcone stressed that predators aiming to harm children in New York would face prosecution.
Detailing the resolve to safeguard children from exploitation, HSI's Erin Keegan emphasized the agency's dedication to pursuing and holding accountable those who target vulnerable minors. "HSI will stop at nothing to track down and bring to justice those who target children, regardless of where their crimes take them," Keegan asserted in a report obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case against Fegley was a collaborative investigation by HSI and the New York State Police. It is being prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. This program combines the efforts of federal, state, and local authorities to effectively locate and prosecute offenders, as well as assist victims. For more details on Project Safe Childhood, interested parties can visit the Justice Department's website.
