Middleboro Man Pleads Guilty In Enticement Charge

BOSTON – A Middleboro man pleaded guilty today two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor.

Keith Gage, 43, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Gage admitted that he persuaded a 14-year-old girl he met on the Internet to meet with him in person and engage in sexual intercourse. On more than one occasion, Gage traveled to the girl’s town in Massachusetts, and engaged in sexual intercourse with her. Thereafter, Gage attempted to arrange another meeting with the minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse with her. However, at this point Gage was communicating with an undercover federal agent.

Under the plea agreement, should the Court accept the plea, Gage will be sentenced to 13 to 15 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine and restitution to be determined by the Court, forfeiture, and an order that Gage have no contact directly or indirectly with the victim during the period of the incarceration and supervised release. With this conviction, Gage would also be required to register as a sex offender.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Ortiz's Major Crimes Unit.