Man going to prison for attempting to have sex with 11-year-old girl in Wyoming County

Rochester, New York — Federal officials announced Wednesday, a Wyoming County man was sentenced to prison for attempting to have sex with an 11-year-old girl.

A 42-year-old Daniel Hays of Bliss, New York was sentenced to sever five years in prison and 10 years of supervised release following his conviction of attempted receipt of child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Trini Ross.

According to authorities, during April and May 2021, Hays engaged in sexually explicit online and text communications with an individual who he believed to be an 11-year-old girl.

In reality, the child was an undercover New York State Police investigator working with the Department of Homeland Security.

According to officials, during the conversations, Hays discussed having sex with the child and asked the child to produce and send to him naked photographs.

On May 11, 2021, Hays traveled approximately two hours from Bliss to the child’s home in the Western District of New York, in order to have sex with the child, prosecutors said.
Upon arrival, Hays was arrested at the meeting place, at which point he was found to be in possession of candy that he purchased as a gift for the child.