Massachusetts man pleads guilty in Rhode Island to interstate travel to have sex with a minor

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — An eastern Massachusetts man pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to traveling to Rhode Island to have sex with a minor.

This guilty plea resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Rhode Island State Police.

David H. Bentz, 46, of Norwell, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate travel for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. Bentz made his admission before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith.

According to court records, on July 2, 2016, Bentz responded to an online posting and began a series of communications with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old female. The conversation quickly became sexually explicit. On July 6, 2016, Bentz arranged to meet with the 15-year-old in Rhode Island to engage in sexual activity. When Bentz arrived at a pre-arranged location in Rhode Island, he was arrested by members of the Rhode State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Traveling interstate for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 30 years in federal prison; a fine of up to $250,000; and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard B. Myrus.

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.