Oklahoma man sentenced for coercion and enticement of minor in Pennsylvania

John C. Gurganus Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania - Department of Justice
John C. Gurganus Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania - Department of Justice
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A Tulsa, Oklahoma man has been sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that James Cody Duncan, 37, received a sentence of 130 months’ imprisonment from United States District Judge Keli M. Neary. After serving his prison term, Duncan will be on supervised release for 10 years.

Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus stated that Duncan pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor on November 13, 2024. According to authorities, Duncan began communicating online with a 13-year-old girl in Lewistown, Pennsylvania in August 2022 and sent her gifts such as cellphones so they could continue their communication. In April 2023, Duncan traveled to Pennsylvania and engaged in sexual activity with the minor at a local hotel.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case.

“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.”



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