Rochester man who lured child to hotel for sex arrested, charged with enticement

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jonathan Woody, 30, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with enticement of a minor, which carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in January 2024, Woody engaged in sexually explicit online and text communications with a 13-year-old minor victim that he met online.  On January 2, 2024, Woody paid for an Uber to transport the child to a hotel in Greece, NY, where he rented a room. While at the hotel, Woody provided alcohol and marijuana, and engaged in sexual acts with the minor victim. When the minor victim’s family realized that the child was missing from home, 911 was called to initiate a missing person investigation. The minor victim returned home on their own, at which time law enforcement learned of Woody’s interactions with the minor victim. Subsequent investigation led to the identification and arrest of Woody.        

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was detained. 

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. 

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

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