On May 8, 2024, in a federal court in Erie, Pennsylvania, Noah Oliver Fisch-Lewis, 33, of Ithaca, New York, pleaded guilty to two counts of charges involving violations of federal laws prohibiting the exploitation of a minor. United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter presided over the case.

Fisch-Lewis's arrest occurred after he spent nearly a month allegedly communicating with an undercover agent he believed to be the mother of a 10-year-old girl. Fisch-Lewis eventually traveled to Erie, PA, under the impression he would meet the girl for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct.

If you ever face similar charges, having a proper legal defense can play a significant role in your case's outcome. Our Criminal Defense Team at the LLF Law Firm has the experience necessary to offer the defense you need in these circumstances. Learn more about what we can do for you by calling us today at 888-535-3686 or submitting your information through our online contact form.

Undercover Agent Poses as Mother of Young Girl

Per the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Fisch-Lewis began communicating with an undercover agent via the Internet on September 23, 2022. These communications continued until October 8 of that year. In these communications, Fisch-Lewis used graphic terms to describe his desire to enter into a sexual relationship with a 10-year-old girl whose mother he believed he was in contact with.

Arrest for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Fisch-Lewis set up a meeting and traveled to Erie on October 8. Although he believed he was going to meet the 10-year-old girl and have sexual relations with her, when he arrived at the agreed-upon meeting place, law enforcement officers took him into custody.

It's not yet clear what penalties Fisch-Lewis will face now that he's pleaded guilty to the charges against him. The judge has set the sentencing date as October 1, 2024.

Per the law, the penalties Fisch-Lewis may face are:

• No less than 10 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life in prison
• A fine of up to $500,000
• Both

Sentencing guidelines indicate a sentence should account for such factors as the severity of the crime and the criminal history of Fisch-Lewis, if applicable.

A Criminal Defense Team Is Essential

Law enforcement agencies take crimes against children very seriously. This is particularly true of sex crimes.

Fisch-Lewis's case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In May 2006, the Department of Justice launched the project to fight rising rates of child sexual exploitation and abuse in the country. Project Safe Childhood coordinates with other agencies and leverages everything from federal to local resources to achieve its goal.

Facing charges of sex crimes involving children is a very stressful experience. Depending on the nature of the allegations, some facing such charges may understandably worry they're going to spend years in prison.

Worrying is counterproductive. When you're facing charges, it's critical that you enlist the help of legal professionals qualified to handle a case like yours.

That's exactly what you'll find at the LLF Law Firm. For more information about how our Criminal Defense Team can help you, call us at 888-535-3686 or contact us through our online form.