HARRISBURG – Attorney General Tom Corbett Friday announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit have arrested a Pittsburgh man as part of an ongoing undercover Internet “child sex sting” investigation — the 55th arrest by the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Corbett identified the defendant as Brian A. Zielmanski, 39, 3604 Melwood Ave., Pittsburgh.
According to the criminal charges, Zielmanski, using the screen name “Zmangizmo,” used an America Online Internet chat room to contact and sexually proposition an undercover agent from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit. The agent was using the online profile of a 14-year-old girl.
Corbett said that Zielmanski allegedly contacted the undercover agent on Monday and quickly proposed a meeting for the purpose of having sex — asking “do you like older guys” and “r (are) u at home right now?”
The charges state that Zielmanski offered to “coach” the girl about sexual activity and added “u can’t tell no one” and “I could get into a lot of trouble.”
Corbett said that Zielmanski asked if he could talk to the child on the phone, providing a Pittsburgh area cell phone number.
According to the criminal complaint, an undercover agent from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit called that number at approximately 1 p.m. on Monday discussing a meeting location in Murraysville along with the sexual activity that Zielmanski wished to engage in.
Corbett said that Zielmanski also allegedly provided a description of the clothing he would be wearing and the car that he would be driving.
The criminal charges state that Zielmanski and the undercover agent spoke again by phone at approximately 2 p.m., at which time Zielmanski indicated that he was on Route 22, heading toward the meeting location in Murraysville.
At approximately 2:20 p.m. on Monday, Zielmanski was taken into custody by agents from the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit and officers from the Murraysville Police Department when he arrived at the predetermined meeting place.
Zielmanski is charged with one count of criminal attempted unlawful contact with a minor, a first-degree felony which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. He is also charged with one count of criminal use of a computer, a third degree felony which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Zielmanski will be preliminarily arraigned in Westmoreland County.
Zielmanski will be prosecuted in Westmoreland County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony Forray, of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.
Corbett thanked the Murraysville Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.
Corbett noted that Zielmanski is the 55th suspected child predator captured in Pennsylvania by the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit, which was created in January 2005 to identify and capture Internet child predators before they harm children.
Corbett urged anyone who has information about child predators to contact the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit at 1-800-385-1044, or visit the Child Predator Unit section of the Attorney General’s web site at www.attorneygeneral.gov.
GantDaily editor’s note: GantDaily Correspondent Beth Hallstrom wrote an informative piece on how to protect your family from online predators. The article can be accessed by clicking this link — http://www.gantnews.com/news/43/ARTICLE/1022/2006-07-21.html.