Las Cruces Man Indicted in El Paso for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor Following Homeland Security Investigations Arrest
In a federal court in El Paso on Wednesday, 27-year-old Bradley Fariss Pieper of Las Cruces was indicted and charged with coercion and enticement of a minor. According to a criminal complaint, Pieper was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents on September 9. He had attempted to meet with a person he believed was a 15-year-old girl for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts, as per allegations detailed in chats on social media where he communicated his intentions.
Pieper faces one count of coercion and enticement. He was arrested on September 9 and appeared in court on September 11 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne T. Berton of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Following a detention hearing on September 20, Judge Berton ordered Pieper to be detained without bond pending trial.
If convicted, Pieper could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola for the HSI El Paso Division. HSI is actively investigating the case.
