Seaford tutor busted for alleged enticement of 13-year-old

A Seaford man who tutors children at home was arrested on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 for allegedly trying to arrange a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old girl in New York City.

According to officials at the New York City Police Department, Jeffrey Weber, 59, began communicating with an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl through Craig’s List, email and text, on Jan. 30.

The officer presented himself as a girl seeking an older man, and Weber, in a series of explicit emails, communicated his desire to have sex with the fictitious teen, even acknowledging that having sex with a minor would mean that he would go to jail, according to a sworn affidavit.

After arranging a meet-up, officers arrested Weber as he approached a diner, allegedly in hopes of meeting the 13-year-old, police said. They found candles, towels, condoms and lubricant on Weber’s person.

Weber that day confessed to sending the emails and texts to the undercover officer, and admitted that he had intended to have sex with the girl.

“Thankfully, [Weber] was corresponding with an undercover law enforcement officer and not a young girl, but his alleged intentions are no less insidious,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman. “This office, along with our partners at the NYPD, remain committed to keeping child predators off the streets.”

Weber was charged federally with one count of attempted enticement, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Weber was ordered held without bail, because he could pose a danger to the community, according to court records, and he is being represented by attorney Paul Petrus, of New York City.

Weber is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 28.