ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Varian, age 52, of Troy, New York, appeared today in federal court on a charge that he attempted to entice a minor into sexual activity.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to the criminal complaint, Varian, a school bus driver, attempted to entice and coerce an individual, whom he believed to be a 14-year-old boy, to engage in sex. After weeks of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with undercover law enforcement officers posing as the boy, Varian arranged to meet the boy at a location in Albany County, where Varian was arrested.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Varian faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison, a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Additionally, if convicted, Varian would be required to register as a sex offender.
Varian appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered him detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for December 12, 2018.
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation may contact the FBI’s Albany Field Office at (518) 431-4866.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Town of Colonie Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Kinsella Kistler.