Donald Jenkins, a 37-year-old resident of Clarksville, Tennessee, has been arrested and charged with traveling to the Capital Region with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations.
The criminal complaint states that Jenkins began communicating in September 2024 with an individual about his plan to sexually abuse an 11-year-old child living in Clifton Park, New York. He allegedly rented a car in Tennessee and drove to Clifton Park to carry out this plan. On November 19, 2024, Jenkins was apprehended at a prearranged meeting location in Clifton Park. Authorities allege he took an STD test earlier that day and brought multiple pairs of child’s underwear as gifts for the minor. It is important to note that these charges are accusations, and Jenkins is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Jenkins appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart today and has been detained pending a detention hearing set for Monday, November 25. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison, fines up to $250,000, supervised release from five years to life, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Sentencing will be determined by a judge based on various factors including statutory guidelines.
The case is being investigated by HSI and the New York State Police while Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark leads prosecution efforts under Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood was launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aiming to marshal federal, state, and local resources against individuals exploiting children via the Internet while also identifying and rescuing victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.