Georgia Man Arrested After Traveling To Detroit For Sex With Minor
DETROIT (WWJ) - A Georgia man who came to Detroit, allegedly to have sex with an underage boy, was arrested Friday following a sting operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.
David Crossman, 66, of Atlanta, was arrested without incident as he stepped off a plane at Detroit Metro Airport. He's being charged with travel in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in elicit sexual conduct and online enticement.
Court records indicate that for two months, Crossman had unknowingly been communicating online with an undercover federal agent who responded to an ad Crossman had placed seeking sex with a minor.
In the correspondence, Crossman allegedly described his plan for the minor in graphic detail to the undercover agent, who was posing as the father of a young boy. Crossman then flew from his Atlanta home to Detroit, where he was arrested by a team of special agents after his flight arrived.
"We are finding more and more that state lines and international borders are clearly not a hindrance to child predators," Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge, said in a release . "Homeland Security Investigations will continue to proactively seek out individuals attempting to ensnare children for their perverse sexual desires."
Online enticement carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The charge of travel in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in any illicit sexual conduct with another is punishable by a prison term of up to 30 years.
This investigation is part of Operation Predator, a nationwide initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. Investigators encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or by completing its online tip form.
