United States v. Wolff, No. 14-3856 (8th Cir. 2015)
Annotate this CaseAfter he was arrested in an undercover sting operation conducted by law enforcement, Wolff was charged by Indictment with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, 18 U.S.C. 1591 and 1594. Wolff moved to dismiss the Indictment, arguing the government had to prove an actual minor victim—not an undercover officer—was involved in the offense. The district court denied the motion. Wolff then entered a conditional plea of guilty. The Eighth Circuit affirmed: the statute prohibiting attempted sex trafficking of a minor does not require that an actual minor victim be the object of the attempt.
Court Description: Per Curiam - Before Loken, Bye and Kelly, Circuit Judges] Criminal case - Criminal law. The statute prohibiting attempted sex trafficking of a minor does not require that an actual minor victim be the object of the attempt, and the district court did not err in denying defendant's motion to dismiss the indictment or in rejecting his proposed jury instruction regarding the elements of the offense.
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