NY Man Admits Attempting to Entice Minor to Have Sex in South Jersey

A man from Bronx, NY, has admitted to attempting to entice a minor and traveling from New York to New Jersey to meet a person, whom he thought was a 13-year-old girl, to engage in sexual activity.

Acting U.S Attorney Rachael Honig says 43-year-old Eduardo Silva pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor and one count traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Get our free mobile app

Honig says,

On Sept. 5, 2020, Silva, while using an online social media application, sent a message to an individual he believed was an underage girl, but who was in fact an undercover federal agent. Silva asked whether the minor was “into older guys” and over the next several days sent a series of explicit online communications and text messages, discussing his intent to travel to meet the minor and engage in sexual activity with her. On Sept. 23, 2020, Silva was arrested when he traveled from the Bronx to a motel in Bordentown, New Jersey, intending to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex.

The count of coercion and enticement of a minor carries 10 years to a lifetime prison sentence. The count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor carries up to 30 years in prion. Each charge also carries a $250,000 fine.

Silva will be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing is scheduled for October 1st.