New Jersey man charged with enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity

NEWARK, N.J. — A Union County man was arrested Thursday for allegedly enticing a minor, with whom he had an online relationship, to engage in sexual activity. The arrest follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Eric Bing, 28, of Clark, was charged with enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.

According to court documents, in 2008, Bing, posing as a famous band singer, allegedly began an online relationship with a girl living overseas, who was approximately 14 years old at the time. He used internet-based communications, including chat, email, online video games, and a one-way webcam. Bing made increasingly explicit sexual requests to the victim for her to send pictures and videos of herself using her webcam. The victim complied with many of these requests between 2008 and 2010.

The enticement count with which Bing is charged carries a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.

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 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative.

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. 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.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.