By Jessica Dabrowski | jessica.dabrowski@fox8.com Staff Writer 5:09 p.m. EST, December 2, 2011
CLEVELAND— A man who pleaded guilty to three counts related to attempted sex trafficking of children was sentenced Friday.
Otto Linzenbach, 63, of Leipzig, Germany, will spend 15 years in prison.
"The details laid out in this case reveal a secret world that targets our society's most precious assets -- our children," Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, said. "We will work cooperatively and vigilantly to protect our most vulnerable."
Undercover Homeland Security Investigations agents created a phony website to cater to individuals seeking to have sex with children.
The agents told the child predators that for about $1,600 they would meet them in Cleveland, then take them to Canada or Michigan to rape a child or children.
The predators were told to pick their victims through photos on the fake website.
No real children were involved.
Linzenbach flew to Cleveland from Germany with the intent to rape children.
"This operation shows the length to which those who seek to have sex with children are willing to go -- even if it means flying across the globe," said Brian Moskowitz, Special Agent in Charge, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
"It also underscores the fact that lengthy federal prison terms await those who engage in this depraved behavior. HSI will continue to use our unique authorities to confront this threat wherever it exists," Moskowitz added.
Linzenbach was arrested on April 1 after an undercover agent picked him up at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Cleveland.
Court records show he paid $1,600 in cash before being arrested.
On Aug. 9, Linzenbach pleaded guilty to attempted sex trafficking in children, attempted exploitation of children and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
(Fox 8 News Reporter Emily Valdez Contributed to this report.)
CLEVELAND— A man who pleaded guilty to three counts related to attempted sex trafficking of children was sentenced Friday.
Otto Linzenbach, 63, of Leipzig, Germany, will spend 15 years in prison.
"The details laid out in this case reveal a secret world that targets our society's most precious assets -- our children," Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, said. "We will work cooperatively and vigilantly to protect our most vulnerable."
Undercover Homeland Security Investigations agents created a phony website to cater to individuals seeking to have sex with children.
The agents told the child predators that for about $1,600 they would meet them in Cleveland, then take them to Canada or Michigan to rape a child or children.
The predators were told to pick their victims through photos on the fake website.
No real children were involved.
Linzenbach flew to Cleveland from Germany with the intent to rape children.
"This operation shows the length to which those who seek to have sex with children are willing to go -- even if it means flying across the globe," said Brian Moskowitz, Special Agent in Charge, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
"It also underscores the fact that lengthy federal prison terms await those who engage in this depraved behavior. HSI will continue to use our unique authorities to confront this threat wherever it exists," Moskowitz added.
Linzenbach was arrested on April 1 after an undercover agent picked him up at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Cleveland.
Court records show he paid $1,600 in cash before being arrested.
On Aug. 9, Linzenbach pleaded guilty to attempted sex trafficking in children, attempted exploitation of children and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
(Fox 8 News Reporter Emily Valdez Contributed to this report.)
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