Pa. man traveled to Ohio to have sex with teen: Court

AKRON, Ohio – A man who investigators say drove from eastern Pennsylvania to Wooster to have sex with a teen pleaded guilty last week in federal court.

Soumya Rudra, 41, of Whitehall, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and to possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), also referred to as child pornography.

The complaint against Rudra was filed in December 2023 after the mother of the 14-year-old victim contacted the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 23 when she discovered that her daughter’s cellphone was pinging to a motel in Wooster. The mother told investigators that a man in a white car picked her daughter up.

When police got to the motel, they located Rudra, who was arrested at the scene, and his cell phone and tablet were confiscated.

Investigators said the victim and Rudra met on the dating app “Kiss Kiss” and continued their communications over several months on Snapchat before making arrangements to meet.

Investigators also discovered child sexual abuse materials involving other minors on his electronic devices which were recovered at the hotel room.

Sentencing for Rudra is set for Dec. 11. He faces up to 30 years in prison.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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