A 34-year-old Jersey City man, Ryan Niksa, has been charged with enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, according to a federal complaint filed in Newark.
Niksa appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre on January 29, 2025, and was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Thompson of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.
The complaint alleges that Niksa engaged in an inappropriate online relationship with a 14-year-old girl from California, beginning in or around August 2024.
According to court documents and statements made during the proceedings, Niksa communicated with the minor through social media applications and text messages, exchanging sexually explicit photos and videos.
The complaint further alleges that Niksa expressed a desire to live with the minor, discussed traveling to her home state, and even proposed fleeing to another country to evade law enforcement.
The investigation began on or around December 10, 2024, when law enforcement received information about the online relationship. The minor victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, confirmed during interviews that she and Niksa had exchanged explicit content.
She also stated that Niksa was aware of her age and continued the relationship despite this knowledge. The minor’s parent consented to a search of her phone, which revealed explicit messages and videos exchanged between the two.
In one instance, Niksa allegedly expressed frustration about the inability to engage in physical contact with the minor, stating, “I’m lonely all the time, we can’t go out places together, there’s no sex, all I get is dreams about us having sex. Come on, you think that is enough to satisfy me? Hell no.”
In another message, Niksa reportedly expressed concerns about being reported to law enforcement, saying, “My family would also disown me. You know they’ll find us, unless we get lucky and make it to a different country.”
The charge of enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, with a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Niksa is represented by Shaiba Rather, Assistant Federal Public Defender.
Prosecutors note that the charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and Niksa is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Special Agent Kelsey Granger leading the inquiry.
The complaint underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat online exploitation of minors and highlights the serious consequences of such alleged conduct.
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