A man from Tomball, Texas, Emre Nathaniel Baluken, 24, has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for online enticement of a minor and traveling with the intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor. The sentence was issued on October 6 by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove.
Court documents state that on November 13, 2024, Baluken traveled from Tomball, Texas to Winchester, Kentucky to meet a minor he had communicated with over several months using X and Instagram. His intention was to take the minor back to Texas. After being detained by law enforcement, Baluken admitted that he had exchanged sexually explicit photos and videos with the victim over these platforms.
Baluken will be required by federal law to serve at least 85 percent of his prison term. After completing his sentence, he will remain under supervision by the U.S. Probation Office for ten years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Louisville Field Office, announced the sentencing.
The FBI conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Chapman prosecuted it.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies.
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