Penalties under Federal Law for Solicitation of a Minor (United States Code 18 Section 2422, 2423)

In the state of California, sex crimes involving minors are prosecuted very aggressively. If you are convicted of a sex crime involving a minor, you face imprisonment, expensive fines and lifetime registration as a sex offender. But when solicitation of a minor is charged at the federal level, potential prison time and fines increase significantly.

Our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich wish to share with you the severe consequences you face if you are charged with solicitation of a minor at the federal level.

What is Solicitation of a Minor Under Federal Law?

Under United States Code 18 Section 2422 and Section 2423, you can be charged for solicitation of a minor by the federal government if you do any of the following:

• Knowingly persuade, induce, entice or coerce any minor to travel across state or international borders to engage in prostitution or any unlawful sexual activity, or attempt to do so;
• Use mail or any other means (including the Internet) or means of interstate or foreign commerce to knowingly persuade, induce, entice or coerce any minor to engage in any unlawful sexual activity, or to attempt to do so;
• Knowingly transport a minor across state or international borders to engage in unlawful sexual activity; OR
• Travel across state or international borders for the purpose of engaging in any unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

You do not have to actually have sex with a minor and the person you contact does not actually have to be a minor in order for you to be convicted of solicitation of a minor. You can be convicted if you believed the victim was a minor and you attempted to arrange a meeting with the victim in another state.

What are the Penalties for Solicitation of a Minor under Federal Law?

Depending on the circumstances of your case, federal solicitation of a minor can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. The penalties for federal solicitation of a minor vary depending on the circumstances of your case:

Under U.S. Code 18 Section 2422 and Section 2423, if you are convicted of using mail, Internet or other forms of interstate or international communication to solicit or attempt to solicit a minor with the intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity or are convicted of successfully transporting a minor for this illegal purpose, you face a minimum of 10 years (as a misdemeanor) and a maximum of life (as a felony) in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Under U.S. Code 18 Section 2423, if you are charged with traveling to another state, coming to the United States or traveling internationally and engaging in illicit sexual activity with a minor, you face a felony conviction and a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Upon release from federal prison for a felony solicitation of a minor conviction, you will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. If you fail to register, you could be charged with a separate crime that carries up to 10 years in prison and considerable fines.

Call the Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich

If you or a loved one is facing a federal solicitation of a minor charge, it is critical that you speak to an experienced federal criminal defense attorney immediately. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have over 30 years of experience successfully defending our clients charged with solicitation of a minor at the federal level. Our skilled attorneys will fight to get you the best possible outcome in your case.

With offices in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Tustin, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville, there is an experienced Wallin & Klarich criminal defense attorney near you no matter where you work or live.

Call us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free phone consultation. We will get through this together.