Connecticut man arrested in Colorado after driving for 3 days to have sex with minors

DENVER — A Connecticut man was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury after being arrested last week for traveling to Colorado to have sex with two minor girls and their mother, who in this case was an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent.

This indictment and arrest were announced by U.S. Attorney John Walsh, District of Colorado, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix on Tuesday ordered Jason Tremblay, 28, of Ledyard, Connecticut, released on a $50,000 unsecured bond. He was first charged based on a criminal complaint Feb. 4, and then indicted by a federal grand jury Feb. 9.

According to charging documents, including the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, in December 2014, an HSI special agent began an investigation targeting individuals who use a particular website to sexually exploit children.  These individuals also may create and join a variety of groups based on their sexual interests, including groups called “incest,” “jailbait,” and “teen.”  Members may post ads in the website’s classified section seeking to meet other members with the same sexual interests, such as rape and incest.

In November 2015, the HSI special agent was working in an undercover capacity in Greeley, Colorado, adopting a fictional persona of a single mother of two children, ages 10 and 14.  The agent posted a classified ad, and on Nov. 30, 2015, the special agent received an email via the aforementioned website from an individual asking if the mom persona was “active with your girls.”  After this email, further communications ensued, including chats and other communications.

On Jan. 6, 2016, the undercover agent received an image that then-target, now defendant Tremblay claimed to be himself.  In return, the special agent sent images that she identified as her with her two minor daughters. After agreeing to a meeting that would involve sexual exploiting the minor girls, on Feb. 2, 2016, Tremblay began a drive he estimated would take 29 hours from Ledyard, Connecticut, to Greeley, Colorado.  On Feb. 4, at 2:20 a.m., Tremblay was encountered by a Greeley police officer, who asked Tremblay about his sobriety and why he was in the vicinity.  HSI special agents and Colorado State Patrol Officers then arrived on scene and Tremblay was placed under arrest.

According to the indictment, the defendant faces one count of aggravated sexual abuse with children.  If convicted on that count, he faces not less than 30 years, and up to life in federal prison.  Further, he faces one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.  If convicted on that count, he faces not more than 30 years in federal prison.  Finally, Tremblay faces two counts of attempted coercion and enticement.  If convicted on those counts, he faces not less than 10 years, and not more than life imprisonment, per count. Each of the four counts also carries a fine of not more than $250,000.

This case was investigated by HSI, with support from the Colorado State Patrol and the Greeley Police Department.

Tremblay is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia Riewerts, District of Colorado.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.