NJ Could Get Life in Prison For Sexually Enticing a Minor Online

A man from the Garden State could potentially be sentenced to life in prison after federal authorities say he engaged in sexual activity with a minor online for only a handful of days.

On Thursday, 51-year-old Sunil Vaid of North Brunswick pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to one count of online enticement of a minor.

According to court documents, from August 3rd through 6th, 2020, Vaid used an online messaging service to communicate with a minor victim, including requesting that the minor victim pose nude so he could take sexually explicit images.

Vaid knowingly misrepresented his identity to induce the minor to engage in the sexual activity.

The charge of online enticement that he pleaded guilty to carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum of life behind bars, and a $250,000 fine.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 21st.

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger thanked special agents and members of the FBI Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, and the North Brunswick Police for their assistance with this investigation.