Connecticut - EUGENE C. BOISVERT, 40, Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Attempting to Engage in Sex with a Minor

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that EUGENE C. BOISVERT, 40, of Springfield, Mass., was sentenced today by United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to 136 months of imprisonment, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for traveling to attempt to engage in sex with a minor. On May 10, 2011, a jury found BOISVERT guilty of one count of using the Internet to attempt to persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity, and one count of interstate travel to attempt to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal, state and local investigative partners are committed to protecting children from harm,” stated U.S. Attorney Fein. “I want to commend the FBI, Milford Police, and all the members of the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force who patrol the Internet every day to thwart those who intend to exploit children.”

According to the evidence at trial, between June 26 and August 6, 2010, BOISVERT engaged in approximately 40 Internet conversations with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but who was, in fact, an undercover Milford Police detective working with the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force and posing as the girl. BOISVERT repeatedly enticed and persuaded the “girl” to engage in sexual activity with him by telling the girl that she was his girlfriend, that she could trust him to never hurt her, and by suggesting that he would marry her one day.

The Internet “chats” also revealed that BOISVERT knew it was illegal for him to engage in a sexual relationship with a minor and was concerned about being caught by law enforcement. In one chat that occurred on July 27, 2010, BOISVERT said that he “was scared you (the “girl”) were trying to set me up with the comps [sic]” and that he “never had a gf (girlfriend) 14 before but I am ok with it . . . just don’t be tricking me with the cops.”

BOISVERT eventually arranged with the “girl” to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. On the morning of August 6, 2010, BOISVERT traveled from Springfield to a location in Milford, Conn., where he had previously arranged to meet the “girl,” and was arrested.

BOISVERT has been detained since his arrest.

Today, Judge Bryant also ordered BOISVERT to forfeit the vehicle he drove to the meeting with the undercover officer posing as the girl.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Milford Police Department. The New Britain Police Department and the New Milford Police Departments also assisted in the investigation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Deborah R. Slater and Krishna R. Patel.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative and the District of Connecticut’s Operation Constant Vigilance, which are aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force investigates crimes occurring over the Internet, including computer intrusion, Internet fraud, copyright violations, Internet threats and harassment, and online crimes against children. The task force also provides computer forensic review services for participating agencies. The task force is housed in the main FBI office in New Haven, Connecticut. For more information about the task force, please contact the FBI at 203-777-6311.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

http://www.fbi.gov/newhaven/press-releases/2011/springfield-man-sentenced-to-more-than-11-years-in-prison-for-attempting-to-engage-in-sex-with-a-minor