BUFFALO, N.Y. — A New York man was arrested for attempted production of child sexual abuse material and sex with a 12-year-old girl following an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo.
Jack Sherlock, 55, of Salamanca, New York, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempted production of child pornography and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, the U.S. District Court for the District of Western New York announced Dec. 10. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.
According to the investigation, on Nov. 7, the Salamanca Police Department contacted HSI Buffalo to advise them Sherlock initiated sexual communications with a Facebook account controlled by a Pennsylvania-based citizens group purporting to belong to a 12-year-old female living in Salamanca. During these communications, Sherlock stated that he wanted the 12-year-old to send him nude images and had expressed a desire to meet in person to engage in sexual activity.
On Nov. 20, investigators took over the Facebook account from the citizens group and engaged in conversation with Sherlock. During the conversation, an investigator, posing as the 12-year-old girl, stated that a “cousin,” also a 12-year-old girl, was with her. The investigator then sent Sherlock a link to a Facebook account for the “cousin.” Sherlock accepted and soon began a sexually oriented conversation with the “cousin.” He asked for sexually explicit images and planned to meet in person to have sex. Sherlock was arrested on Dec. 4 as he attempted to meet up with the 12-year-old girl.
The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office also supported the investigation leading to the arrest.
Members of the public who have specific information related to this case are urged to contact the HSI Buffalo field office at 716-945-2330.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Know2Protect (K2P) is a national public awareness campaign from the Department of Homeland Security. K2P’s aim is to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults, and policymakers to prevent, combat, and report online child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information, please visit our YouTube playlists at Know2Protect Campaign PSA Playlist and Know2Protect Digital Safety Series Playlist on the DHS main channel. Additional resources are available at know2protect.gov, Instagram, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.