Feds: In-home tutor from Seaford accused of enticing girl, 13

A Seaford man who works as an in-home tutor for at-risk youths was charged with enticement after he answered a Craigslist ad and then went to a Manhattan diner on Valentine’s Day expecting to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex, federal officials said.

The girl turned out to be a male undercover NYPD detective who works with the Department of Homeland Security, officials said.

The criminal complaint against Jeffrey Weber, 59, of South Seamans Neck Road, described a series of explicit text messages the tutor sent to the detective who posed as a girl named Becca.

The NYPD released a photo of Weber, allegedly texted to the detective, wearing a purple T-shirt emblazoned with a message that read: “MY GIRLFRIEND IS THE COOLEST Sweetest MOST GORGEOUS WOMAN I HAVE EVER SEEN SHE IS MY BestFriend AND MY LIFE.”

Authorities said Weber wore the T-shirt and carried a bag containing condoms, towels, candles and lubricant when he was arrested Wednesday at the unnamed diner.

Weber is charged with one count of enticement, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, the Department of Justice said. The NYPD also charged Weber with attempted rape, attempted criminal sex act and attempted acting in a manner injurious to a child.

At his arraignment Thursday in Manhattan federal court, Weber was ordered held without bail. His federal public defender, Jullian D. Harris, could not be reached for comment Friday.

The NYPD said investigators “have reason to believe” there may be others who have had similar contact with Weber and have asked anyone with information to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-8477.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”