BROOKLYN, NY – A Brooklyn man was arrested late yesterday near Seattle, on criminal charges related to his alleged plan to travel to Washington State for sexual abuse of a minor.
According to court documents, Rajesh Singh, 28, began communicating with an undercover officer in August 2020 about his desire to travel to Washington State to sexually abuse a child under the age of 12. The undercover officer was participating in an internet-based chat platform known to be used by individuals interested in child exploitation and child exploitation imagery. The undercover agent created a fictitious daughter under the age of 12, and Singh communicated extensively about his desire to rape the child and film the sexual assault. At various times in the chats, Singh indicated he had previously molested children.
Singh was observed in New York getting on a flight to Seattle, arrived at Sea-Tac, and took a shuttle to an area hotel and was arrested there by agents with Homeland Security Investigation. Singh appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle today and remains detained.
Rajesh Singh is charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child Under Twelve, Attempted Production of Child Pornography, and Attempted Enticement of a Minor. If convicted, Singh faces a mandatory minimum 30 years in prison and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.