Gregory Graff was arrested and charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, according to an announcement by United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, on Mar. 18. Graff was taken into federal custody after allegedly communicating online with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl and attempting to meet her for sexual activity.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the exploitation of minors through online platforms. Authorities say that law enforcement will continue to use all available tools to prosecute those who target children.
“Gregory Graff is every parent’s nightmare,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He allegedly used the internet to convince an individual, whom he believed to be a minor, to meet him for sexual activity. This prosecution shows that we will use every tool available to law enforcement to prosecute and punish to the fullest extent of the law those who exploit New York’s most vulnerable citizens: our children. There may be other victims. If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.”
According to allegations in the complaint, on January 21 and January 22, a New York State Police investigator posed as a 13-year-old girl named “Sammi” during online communications with Graff. During these conversations, Graff reportedly asked for sexually explicit photos and made plans to meet in Orange County, New York. When Graff arrived at the agreed-upon location on January 22, he was arrested by state police.
Following his arrest, Graff was charged in Wallkill Town Court with several offenses including Attempted Rape in the Second Degree and Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the First Degree. He now faces one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor in federal court—a charge carrying a minimum sentence of ten years and up to life imprisonment if convicted.
Clayton praised the efforts of multiple agencies involved in the investigation including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force and local district attorney offices.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcia S. Cohen and John Wynne from the White Plains Division.
