New York man convicted in New Jersey child luring case
Trenton, NJ – A New York man has been convicted in Bergen County Superior Court after a jury found he attempted to lure and sexually assault a minor through online communications, New Jersey officials announced.
Shaheen Lariff, 56, of New City, New York, was found guilty on all counts in the indictment, including second-degree luring or enticing a child, second-degree attempted sexual assault, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The verdict followed a jury trial before Judge Christopher R. Kazlau.
According to evidence presented at trial, Lariff contacted an individual on a dating application whom he believed to be a 15-year-old boy. Prosecutors said Lariff continued communicating despite the stated age, discussing sexual acts and attempting to arrange an in-person meeting while misrepresenting his own age.
Investigators said Lariff later traveled to a predetermined location to meet the individual, where he was taken into custody by law enforcement. Authorities confirmed the individual Lariff believed to be a minor was an undercover officer.
The case was investigated by the New Jersey State Police and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Second-degree convictions carry potential sentences of five to ten years in state prison, while the third-degree conviction carries up to five years.
Key Points
- A New York man was convicted of luring and attempted sexual assault charges
- The defendant believed he was communicating with a 15-year-old
- He was arrested after traveling to meet an undercover officer
