Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DENNIS ANTHONY SZANTYR, JR., 47, of Prospect, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on multiple occasions between November 2018 and October 2019, Szantyr used smart phones, tablets and other computer devices, and an interactive computer service, to entice a minor victim under the age of 16 to engage in sexual acts. At times, including during the commission of the sexual acts between Szantyr and the minor victim, the victim was in the custody, care or supervision of Szantyr. Szantyr also took images and recorded video of his sexual contact with the victim.
Szantyr is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on March 2, 2022, at which time he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Szantyr has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on October 31, 2019.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.
Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle thanked the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
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