John Secor, Jr., a 46-year-old resident of Rome, New York, pleaded guilty on March 25 in federal court to charges of enticing and coercing a minor as well as receiving child pornography.
Secor admitted that in May 2025 he began communicating online with a 16-year-old girl from Oneida County through Facebook. Despite being told the girl’s age, Secor engaged in sexually explicit conversations and requested that she send him explicit images and videos. He also arranged an in-person meeting with the intention of engaging in sexual acts with the minor.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “This defendant’s actions were calculated, predatory, and profoundly disturbing. He targeted a minor through Facebook, manipulated her, and sought to exploit her for sexual purposes. Let me be clear: anyone who engages in this kind of conduct will be aggressively investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Social media companies must also recognize their responsibility in preventing such exploitation on their platforms and take stronger, proactive measures to protect vulnerable users. I thank HSI and the New York State Police for their commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo said: “Secor has admitted to deeply disturbing and exploitative behavior toward a child, and after today’s plea, he faces decades in federal prison. Homeland Security Investigations works every day to bring predators like Secor to justice. We hope that today’s guilty plea is a positive step forward for the victim and her family as they begin to heal and move forward.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James added: “This case underscores the very real and ongoing threat that online predators pose to our children. The defendant’s actions were deliberate, measured, and manipulative, targeting a vulnerable minor for exploitation. The New York State Police remain fully committed to working alongside our federal partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who seek to harm children. We will continue to use every available resource to protect our communities and ensure offenders are brought to justice.”
The charge of enticement carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment; receipt of child pornography carries at least five years up to twenty years imprisonment along with fines up $250, 00 per count plus supervised release ranging from five years up through life.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 21 before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes in Syracuse.
