A Bradford, Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty to traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan.
Arthur Picanco, 43, entered his plea on one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. U.S. District Judge Samantha Elliott set sentencing for March 9, 2026.
The case stems from a law enforcement operation on November 14, 2024. Agents posted and monitored an advertisement on a website frequently used for commercial sex ads. The ad included images that appeared to show two minor females and provided a contact phone number. Law enforcement communicated with individuals who responded to the ad, including Picanco.
According to authorities, Picanco agreed to pay $100 for sex with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl. An undercover agent gave him the address of a hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire. Picanco traveled from Massachusetts to the hotel where he confirmed he had cash and intended to meet the minor. Police arrested him at the scene and found he had a condom and over $100 in cash.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation, with assistance from the Manchester Police Department, New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Krasinski, Matthew Vicinanzo, and Alex Chen are prosecuting.
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice,” according to information released by officials. “Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.”
More details about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
