United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, April 1, 2008, that Jordan Japalucci of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges related to traveling and transporting a minor across state lines for illegal sexual purposes.

The two-count superseding indictment named Japalucci, age 21, as the sole defendant.

According to the superseding indictment presented to the court, on or about July 9, 2007, until July 14, 2007, Japalucci traveled and transported a minor in interstate commerce for the purposes of engaging in illicit sexual conduct.

Assistant United States Attorney Soo C. Song, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the superseding indictment in this case.

A superseding indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.