A south suburban man was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison Monday for trying to persuade a 14-year-old girl to have sex with him. Not only did his plan fail, but the girl turned out to be a cop.
Martin N. Pazdzuira
Martin N. Pazdzuira, 45, of Lansing pleaded guilty in April to using the Internet to attempt to persuade an individual he believed to be a minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Pazdzuira admitted he frequently used the Internet to chat with underage girls, according to a statement from prosecutors. In August 2012, he began chatting with “Emily,” whom he believed was 14, and told her he was 16.
He made plans to meet “Emily” and take her to a hotel in Indiana to engage in sexual conduct, but was arrested when he showed up to meet her, prosecutors said. The “girl” was actually an undercover law enforcement officer.
“Thank goodness it was law enforcement posing as ‘Emily,’ and not Emily,” U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve said when she handed down the 235-month, or 19 years and 7 month, sentence Monday in federal court.
Pazdzuira, who had two prior convictions for child sexual exploitation offenses, will be placed on court supervision for life following his release.
In 1995, he was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving an 8-year-old child; and in 2005, he was convicted of possession of child pornography, according to the statement.