PROVIDENCE, RI – A Warwick man has admitted to a federal judge that he rideshared to a local hotel intending to have sex with a minor, said US Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Zachary Q. Baker of Warwick pleaded guilty today to a charge of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3.
Baker’s sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In pleading guilty, Baker admitted that, on March 10, 2023, he responded to an online advertisement for “escorts” that contained images of what appeared to be two young females being offered for a “short visit” and a “little fun.” Baker engaged in a lengthy series of text messages with a person he believed was offering a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old for sex for a fee.
After several hours of text messaging, Baker rode to a local hotel via a rideshare where he met with the person he believed was arranging for a sexual encounter with one or both of the girls. The person he was communicating with and with whom he met was, in fact, a Homeland Security Investigations agent. Baker was arrested after acknowledging to an undercover agent that he was the person who engaged in the conversations with the agent and that he wanted to have sex with the 13-year-old girl for a fee.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr. The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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