PHILADELPHIA, PA — Duane Taylor, 50, of Brooklyn, New York, entered a guilty plea on Thursday, June 5, to multiple federal charges stemming from the abduction of a minor from Reading, Pennsylvania, and her subsequent transportation across state lines. The plea was made before United States District Court Judge John M. Gallagher.
Taylor admitted to kidnapping, traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, producing child pornography, possessing child pornography, and transporting child pornography. These charges originated from an incident on August 31, 2022, when a 13-year-old girl was reported missing from her Reading home.
According to court documents, the victim’s mother last saw her daughter in her bedroom at 10:30 p.m. the night before she disappeared. Hours later, the mother discovered the back door of their home ajar, with its chain lock broken. Surveillance footage revealed an individual entering the home at 2 a.m., ascending to the second floor, and later exiting alongside the victim. Authorities identified the individual as Taylor, the mother’s former boyfriend.
Following the incident, Reading police worked with New York City law enforcement to track Taylor to his Brooklyn residence, which initially yielded no discovery of the child. The victim was later found after a concerned citizen reported seeing her alone and asking for help, claiming to have been abducted.
“Swift coordination among law enforcement ensured the child’s safe recovery,” noted federal investigators. The case, led by the FBI alongside police departments in Reading and New York City, highlights the strength of inter-agency cooperation in addressing serious crimes.
Taylor is scheduled for sentencing on September 18. He faces a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rosalynda M. Michetti and Josh A. Davison.
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