Norwood Man Drove To New Hampshire To Have Sex With Minor: DOJ

NORWOOD, MA — A Norwood man was sentenced to 24 months in prison after he was caught trying to meet a 15-year-old girl in New Hampshire for sex. The Massachusetts Department of Justice along with several law enforcement agencies used a fake online profile to catch the man and several others, attempting to engage in sexual conduct with a minor.

Jean Fouad Yazbek, 63, drove from Massachusetts to Nashua, New Hampshire, to meet the girl and engage in illicit sexual conduct at a local hotel, according to the DOJ. Beginning on October 2, 2018, and continuing through October 8, 2018, Yazbek engaged in sexually-charged conversations over social media with the decoy minor. In their conversations, Yazbek discussed his desire to engage in various sex acts, including sexual intercourse, with the decoy whom he believed was a 15-year-old girl.

When Yazbek got to the hotel, he found law enforcement officers instead and was placed under arrest. Yazbek admitted that he had planned to meet a 15-year-old girl whom he had met online. He further admitted that he intended to engage in illicit sexual conduct, including sexual intercourse, with the girl. According to Yazbek, he had checked into a local hotel prior to his arrest, and his hotel room contained a brand new phone, a teddy bear, undergarments, and a backpack containing shaving equipment, lubricant, and condoms.

“Protecting the well-being of our children is a high priority of the law enforcement community,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.

“Yazbek thought he was traveling across state lines to have sex with a 15 year old, but his fantasy came to an abrupt end when he found himself in handcuffs” said Jason J. Molina, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Boston. “Today’s sentencing should send a strong message to those who seek to sexually exploit children – state lines will not impede the efforts of the law enforcement community in safeguarding our children and bringing predators to face justice.”