An East Brunswick, NJ man accused of having sex with a 15-year-old boy could face 10 years to life in prison if he’s convicted under federal law.
Federal authorities charged Jayme Shannon, 51, under the Mann Act, which targets people suspected of transporting minors across state lines for illicit purposes. He was charged under New Jersey law with second-degree sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a minor.
Officials said Shannon met the 15-year-old on an Internet chat room in September and the two agreed to meet for sex.
Shannon later admitted to police that he drove to Bronx, where the teen lived, and drove him to New Jersey, to a motel room in Fort Lee, said Paul Fishman, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey.
Shannon was caught by police with the teen in the motel room that same day, October 14, 2013, Fishman said Friday in a news release. He was arrested Friday morning in West Windsor.
Shannon told police that he thought the boy was 17.
Shannon was expected to make his first appearance Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Newark. It was not clear Friday whether he had an attorney.
A spokesman for Fishman’s office said the office was not allowed to release booking photos of suspects.
