Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty To Transporting A Minor For Illegal Sexual Activity

          CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE - Lawrence Marks, 35, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, appeared in United States District Court today and pled guilty to transportation of a minor in interstate commerce for illegal sexual activity, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Donald Feith. 

          In November of 2014, the New Hampshire State Police were conducting an investigation into the possible sexual abuse of several children in Franklin, New Hampshire.  The investigation led to Lawrence Marks of Tewksbury, Massachusetts whom several witnesses identified as a man seen frequently with one of the minor children.  Marks subsequently confessed to taking the child from New Hampshire to Massachusetts on several occasions where he engaged in sexual activity with her. 

         “Protecting our children from predators such as Mr. Marks is one of the top priorities of this office,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.  “This case demonstrates the results that can be achieved when local, state and federal law enforcement combine their resources to identify these perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

          Marks is scheduled to be sentenced on March 30, 2016.  He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

          The case was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police and the Franklin Police Department in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Billerica, Massachusetts, Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Helen Fitzgibbon.

          In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.