PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A resident of Orange, who engaged in online communication—often of a sexual nature — with someone he believed to be a 12-year-old girl has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, having admitted to also traveling to Rhode Island with the intent of having sex with the girl and sexual contact with her younger sister.

Cody J. Hansen, 38, pleaded guilty on Dec. 15, 2021, to attempted enticement of a minor, attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. He was sentenced on Tuesday to 120 months in federal prison, to be followed by 20 years of federal supervised release.

According to U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha, Hansen previously told a federal judge in Providence that he posted an online classified advertisement in hopes of connecting with “someone that likes to play when the girl is passed out.” In May 2018, Hansen began communicating with someone he believed to be the caretaker of 12- and 8-year-old girls in Rhode Island. He was actually communicating with an undercover Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

The “caretaker” provided Hansen with an email address to contact the fictional 12-year-old girl.

Hansen drove to Rhode Island on May 22, 2018, and met with the person he believed to be the young girls’ caretaker. In a conversation with the undercover officer, Hansen confirmed he knew the ages of the girls he came to meet and have sex with and was immediately arrested.

This Project Safe Childhood case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

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