Evergreen Reporter

A man from Buffalo, New York, Ian Blochwitz, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for transporting a minor from Vermont to New York with intentions to engage in illegal sexual activities. This announcement came from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, with the indictment dated January 22, 2025.

Blochwitz pleaded not guilty on March 20, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. A subsequent hearing on March 26, 2025, led U.S. Magistrate Judge Jerome Niedermeier to order Blochwitz's detention pending the proceedings.

Court records state that Blochwitz had met the minor, aged twelve, on an anonymous chat platform and traveled in February 2023 from Buffalo to Vermont in a rental car. After meeting the victim, they went to a short-term rental in Whitehall, New York, where the alleged activities occurred, before returning the victim to Vermont.

"An indictment contains allegations only and Blochwitz is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty," stated the United States Attorney’s Office. If convicted, Blochwitz could face ten years to life imprisonment, with sentencing determined by the District Court.

The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, praised by Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher for their efforts. The case prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Joshua L. Banker, while Robert Singer represents Blochwitz.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative targeting child sexual exploitation, launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006. For further information, individuals are directed to visit Justice.gov/PSC.