SCRANTON - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brian Tate, 34, of Gordon, Schuylkill County, was indicted on Nov. 15 for attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and transporting child pornography.

According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that between Oct. 17 and Nov. 9, Tate used the Internet to attempt to persuade and entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, and during that same time period transported child pornography by any means, including by computer.If convicted, Tate faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison for the attempted enticement of a minor charge, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for transporting child pornography.The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspectors, and the Pennsylvania State Police.Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.