An American University graduate student attempted to arrange a sexual encounter with children, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
In February 2016, 26-year-old Julio Perez-Torres of Rome, New York, posted online about his interest in having sex with children, prosecutors said. A Fairfax County Police officer replied, saying he was the father of a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old, Perez-Torres talked about performing graphic sexual acts with the children.
They exchanged sexually explicit emails, texts and phone calls over the next couple of weeks, then arranged a meeting, prosecutors said. Perez-Torres was arrested at that time.
He pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Perez-Torres was a master's degree candidate at American University.
