Accused pedophile hid evil plan to meet father to 'share his young ones' from mates
A Melbourne IVF genetic scientist faces life in prison after flying to Los Angeles in the hopes of meeting 'other pervs' and having sex with young boys, US authorities allege.
Michael John Quinn, 33, was locked up in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center on Tuesday after his arrest, during a sting at an Los Angeles hotel on the weekend, where he was on a trip with some rugby union teammates.
But he kept a dark secret from his mates about his alleged intention to "meet up with a dad who shares his young ones" while travelling.
A trap was set for Mr Quinn earlier this month after he allegedly had an online conversation on a social networking website for pedophiles with undercover agents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations unit.
He explained to the undercover agent he was hoping to meet "other pervs" in the US and agreed to pay a human trafficker $US250 ($A348) to provide him with a young boy with whom he could engage in illicit sex, authorities say.
Mr Quinn, an embryologist at Melbourne's Monash IVF clinic, allegedly went to the Los Angeles hotel on Saturday afternoon expecting to meet with three fellow child predators for a party, during which the men would engage in sex with boys provided by the sex trafficker.
He went to the hotel room not realising the men inside were actually undercover HSI special agents and a short time later, another undercover agent, posing as the sex trafficker, arrived to collect payment for the children, authorities allege.
The Cartoon Network was playing on the hotel television and Toy Story-decorated cupcakes were set out as party treats.
Mr Quinn allegedly brought a camera and monopod with him.
After Mr Quinn allegedly handed the "sex trafficker" the money to allegedly pay for sex with a six-year-old boy who was yet to be presented, law enforcement authorities entered the hotel room and took him into custody.
He was charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of life without parole.
Mr Quinn was also charged with one count of travelling to the US for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Special agent Kelly Kottas of the HSI-led task force, said Mr Quinn was "shocked and nervous" when authorities burst into the room and arrested him.
She said investigators believed Mr Quinn kept the arrangements a secret from his friends on the US trip who were unaware "where he was at or what activity he was engaged in".
"The internet has helped to enable the child sex tourism industry by making the world a smaller place but this case, and others like it prosecuted by my office, show that such international predators can and will be brought to justice," United States Attorney Eileen Decker said.
Mr Quinn is scheduled to appear in US Federal Court in LA on Friday local time.
He has been suspended from working at Monash IVF, the Herald Sun reported.
News break – May 26
