Guilty Plea To Online Sexual Enticement Entered By Manalapan Man

MANALAPAN, NJ — A resident here has admitted to using online chat applications to entice an adolescent to engage in prohibited sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Monday.

Angelo N. Curato, 30, pleaded guilty to a "superseding information," charging him with one count of online enticement of a minor, the U.S. Attorney's office said in a news release. The complaint said the defendant waived in open court prosecution by indictment. The plea was made by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti in Newark.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court from February 2017 through June 2017, Curato used online chat applications to misrepresent his identity and entice or coerce an adolescent to engage in prohibited sexual activity, knowing that the victim was under the age of 18, the news release said.

The online enticement charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 29.

Upon conviction, the complaint gave notice that the U.S. Attorney will seek forfeiture of "any property, real or personal, that was used or intended to be used to commit or to facilitate the commission of the offense." The complaint cited various computer and telephone items.

Sellinger credited special agents of Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina in Newark; and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Lori Linskey, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry O’Connell. Defense counsel is Rahul Sharma, assistant federal public defender, Newark.