NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A city man has been arrested by the FBI on charges related to enticing a minor.

 

James Macko, 23, was arrested Friday and charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. 

 

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office of Northern District of New York, the criminal complaint alleges that between Nov. 16, 2022, and Dec. 9, 2022, Macko texted another person in Albany, N.Y. 

 

In these messages, Macko expressed interest in engaging in sexual conduct with an 11-year-old child. Macko and the other person discussed plans in which Macko would meet them at a prearranged location in order to engage in sexual acts with the child.  

 

On Dec. 9, Macko left his home to meet the presumed child in North Adams at Natural Bridge State Park, where he was encountered by law enforcement and arrested. 

 

Macko is also charged with transferring pornographic images to a person he believed to be 11 years old.

 

Macko appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered Macko detained pending a detention hearing scheduled Tuesday, Dec. 13. 

 

The charges filed against Macko carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. 

 

This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark. 

 

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, special agent in charge of the Albany field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 

This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.