Man faces 5 years in prison, deportation for trying to entice minor to have sex

SCRANTON, Pa. – A Scranton man was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday for using the internet and a cell phone to tempt a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Hugo Banda, 28, pleaded guilty in March 2015 after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and Scranton Police Department investigation.

The charges were brought after Scranton Police received a complaint that Banda had communicated with a 14-year-old minor using Facebook and requested the minor send photographs of her genital area to Banda over the internet. He also asked the minor to accompany him to a local motel to have sex.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Kosik also ordered that Banda be supervised by a probation officer for five years following his release from prison.  It is also noted that Banda is subject to deportation after his release from prison.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.