DC- Man pleads guilty to traveling to D.C. to have sex with minor

5-8-2008 Washington D.C.:

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Chinese national living in Eldersburg, Md., has pleaded guilty to traveling to Washington to have sex with a teen girl after he was caught in a police sting operation.

Federal prosecutors say 37-year-old Wei Chin had multiple instant messaging conversations with a D.C. police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl. In February, prosecutors say Chin arranged to meet the fictitious 14-year-old girl at a hotel in Washington.

He was arrested on Feb. 15, at the prearranged location in Washington and prosecutors say officers found a bag in his car containing condoms, handcuffs and sex toys.

Chin pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in U.S. District Court in Washington.

Under federal sentencing guidelines, Chin faces a likely sentence of 46 to 57 months in prison, but he faces a maximum of 30 years and a fine of $250,000. ..News Source.. by WTOP News.com