Burlington, WA: A 47-year-old youth soccer coach from Surrey B.C. was arrested in Burlington, Washington on Tuesday for allegedly pursuing a 12-year-old girl for sex.
U.S. Marshals say, Kuldip (Kelly) Singh Mahal was arrested after crossing the border at Blaine, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
He was picked up at a park in Burlington where he had allegedly agreed to meet the young girl, who he believed was 12 years old. The girl, was in fact an undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations.
Mahal’s contact with the 12 year old “girl” began Jan. 15 when he responded to an ad on Vancouver’s online Craigslist site.
Justin Sebens, a special agent with Homeland Security, posted the ad in the “casual encounters” section as part of “an investigation into individuals utilizing the website … to meet minor children for the purposes of sexual intercourse,” he said in a complaint document filed in U.S. District Court Wednesday.
The ad was titled “Crazy and very young. Looking to explore myself-w4m.
“I’m a bit young and want to learn some new things. I have never experienced the things I want to. I am real and live in Burlington, WA. I like to go to the outlet stores at Tulalip!!,” read the posting.
Officials say an individual calling himself “Jumbo Smith” responded to the ad.
“i really like what i read in your ad, our wants, needs are the same. My schedule is very flexible to chat, flirt and have hot fun. i would love to take you for a ride to outlet stores and teach you new things,” read the reply.
Sebens replied to the email under the guise of a 12-year-old girl named “Krissy Jennings.”
“i’m turning 13 soon but am super mature for my age,” read part of the reply.
Officials allege that the exchanges continued even after the undercover agent told Mahal her age. The messages sent became sexually explicit and court documents show, they included descriptions of violent sexual acts that the sender would like to perform on her.
Mahal is also alleged to have sent the undercover agent sexually explicit photographs of himself and repeatedly asked the girl for photos of her breasts and vagina.
A second agent, Lara Gregory, spoke to Mahal by telephone, pretending to be Jennings, according to the court documents. During one conversation, it is alleged that Mahal expressed fear he was being “set up,” but when Gregory — as Jennings — replied that if he was scared, they did not have to meet, he replied: “No, no, no, no, I want to, I want to.”
The agents posing as Jennings arranged a Feb. 3 meeting with Mahal at Skagit River Park Playfields in Skagit County, Washington.
“So are we on for next Tuesday? Should i book day off of work????!,” read a message Mahal is alleged to have sent.
When Mahal arrived at the park as scheduled, he was taken into custody.
“In three weeks’ time, the defendant went from responding to an online posting to travelling from Canada to Washington State to meet a minor for illicit sex,” alleged Brad Bench, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Seattle.
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