Man Arrested in RI for Attempting to Entice 14-Year-Old Girl to Engage in Sex

Man Arrested in RI for Attempting to Entice 14-Year-Old Girl to Engage in Sex

A New Jersey man has been arrested in Rhode Island after enticing a 14-year-old girl to engage in illicit sexual conduct, announced U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman on Tuesday.

Amish Jayant Patel, 47, on Sunday, January 5, 2020, and charged with enticement and travel in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

He was ordered detained by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond.

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The Investigation

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, it is alleged that Patel of Swedesboro, New Jersey, communicated online for nearly a month with a person he thought to be a 14-year-old, 9th grade Rhode Island female.

According to the U.S. Attorney, it is alleged that during the online exchange of messages, Patel sent the girl photographs of himself and sexually explicit pictures.

It is alleged that he arranged to meet with the girl in Rhode Island on January 5, 2020, to engage in illicit sexual activity.

He allegedly told the girl he would purchase alcohol for them to share when they met.

The person he was actually communicating with was a Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

According to court documents, when Patel arrived at T.F. Green Airport on Sunday he was followed by undercover law enforcement officers and agents as he deplaned, he traveled to a local liquor store where he purchased alcohol, and then to a pre-determined location where he was expecting to meet with the 14-year-old girl. 

He was arrested without incident.