KEW GARDENS — A construction manager from New City in Rockland County has been charged with allegedly trying to lure an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old Queens girl to meet him for sex, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Michael Gruda, 63, was awaiting arraignment Tuesday on charges of attempted criminal sexual act, attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors and attempted endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the alleged incident, according to the DA. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted of the charges, the DA said.
An NYPD detective was posing as three different 14-years-old Queens girls on multiple occasions since June 7, during which time he allegedly received numerous instant messages from Gruda’s America Online account, the DA said.
Gruda’s messages were allegedly sexual in nature and included invitations to meet him for sexual activity in Queens, according to the DA.
He was arrested Monday after appearing at a pre-arranged Queens location for what he allegedly believed would be a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl, the DA said.
