Brooklyn Man Charged with Coercing and Raping a 14-Year-Old Delaware Resident

WILMINGTON, Del. - A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Brooklyn, New York, man with coercion and enticement of a minor and for traveling to Delaware to rape his victim.

According to court documents, Claude Lennon, 24, communicated with a 14-year-old victim via an online messaging platform and engaged in sexually-charged conversations. Through those conversations, Lennon learned the victim's age and nevertheless arranged to meet the victim in Wilmington, Delaware. Lennon then traveled by train from New York to Wilmington and took an Uber to an agreed-upon location, after which Lennon and the victim engaged in sexual conduct constituting rape in the fourth degree under Delaware law. Lennon also brought condoms with him and provided the victim with approximately $80 and marijuana edibles.

Lennon is charged with one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), and one count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b). If convicted, Lennon faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement.

The FBI Baltimore Field Office's Wilmington Resident Agency, the Wilmington Police Department, and the New York City Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Claudia L. Pare and Bryan C. Williamson are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District CourtLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. for the District of Delaware or on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-104.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.