Gates Man Pleads Guilty to Transporting a Child for Sexual Acts

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Michael J. Rolfe, 48, of Gates, N.Y., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, to transporting a child across state lines with the intent of engaging in illegal sexual activity. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life, a fine of $250,000 or both.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa J. Miller, who is handling the case, stated that in August 2012 the defendant, a long distance truck driver, took a child who was less than 12 years old on a trip from Rochester, N.Y. to locations in Texas. Rolfe admitted to engaging in sexual acts with the child while outside of New York State. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

            The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero, along with Investigators from the New York State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Joseph D’Amico.

            Sentencing is scheduled for August 7th, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Geraci.