LAS VEGAS – After a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted a Las Vegas man yesterday for coercion and enticement of a girl to engage in sexual activity.
Barry Allen Gabelman (51) was found guilty of one count of coercion and enticement. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison. U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan presided over the trial and set sentencing for May 20, 2022.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from October 31 to December 6, 2019, Gabelman exchanged sexually explicit messages and photos via his social media account, as well as his messaging account, with individuals whom he believed to be an 11-year-old girl and her stepfather. In reality, a law enforcement officer was posing as both the girl and stepfather. During their communications, Gabelman discussed having sex with the girl and sent a nude photo of himself. On December 6, Gabelman traveled to a pre-arranged location in Las Vegas to meet and have sex with the girl. Law enforcement officers arrested Gabelman at the meeting place.
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bianca Pucci and Supriya Prasad are prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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