A Rochester man has pleaded guilty to federal charges of coercion and enticement of a minor, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Monday.
31-year-old Jonathan Woody, admitted to the charge before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. The conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a potential fine of up to $250,000.
According to federal prosecutors, the case stems from a January 2024 incident in which Woody began communicating with a 13-year-old child he met through social media. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi stated that Woody engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the child online and via text messages.
On January 2, Woody arranged and paid for an Uber to bring the child to a hotel in Greece, where he had rented a room. Investigators say he provided the child with alcohol and marijuana and engaged in sexual activity during their time at the hotel.
The situation came to light after the child was reported missing. The family contacted 911, launching a missing person investigation. The child eventually returned home, at which point authorities uncovered details of the interaction, leading to Woody’s arrest.
The investigation was conducted by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Greece Police Department, and the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.
Woody is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30 before Judge Siragusa in Rochester federal court.
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