Donald Jenkins, a 37-year-old resident of Clarksville, Tennessee, has pleaded guilty to traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. This announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Jenkins confessed that he began communicating in September 2024 with an individual to plan the sexual abuse of someone he believed to be an 11-year-old child living in Clifton Park, New York. He rented a car in Tennessee and drove to Clifton Park with the intention of abusing the child. On November 19, 2024, Jenkins was arrested at a prearranged meeting location in Clifton Park. He admitted to obtaining a sexually transmitted disease test earlier that day and bringing numerous pairs of child’s underwear as gifts for the minor.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “No matter where you reside, if you try to prey on children in the Northern District of New York, we will find you, arrest you, and seek to convict you and punish you to the fullest extent of the law.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan commented: “Donald Jenkins rented a car, obtained child’s underwear and STD testing kits, and traveled across state lines as part of his plan to sexually abuse someone whom he believed was an 11-year-old child. I thank personnel with HSI Albany, the Northern District of New York, and the New York State Police for consistently taking proactive steps to protect the public from predators.”
Jenkins is set for sentencing by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci on November 12, 2025. He faces up to 30 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, supervised release ranging from at least five years up to life, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by HSI and the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting under Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood was launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 and is led by United States Attorney’s offices along with the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). The initiative coordinates federal, state, and local resources to locate individuals exploiting children via the Internet and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
