Hudson Man Charged with Online Enticement of a Minor

The suspect allegedly encouraged a teenage victim to run away and sent explicit photos and videos.

A 34-year-old Hudson County resident faces federal charges for allegedly inducing a minor in another state to engage in sexual conduct, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced. Ryan Niksa, of Jersey City, has been charged by complaint with one count of enticement of a minor, an offense carrying a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential sentence of life, plus a $250,000 fine.

According to court documents and statements made in Newark federal court, Niksa used social media applications and text messages starting in or around August 2024 to communicate with a minor victim living outside New Jersey. Authorities allege that Niksa and the minor exchanged sexually explicit photos and videos. Niksa also purportedly expressed a desire to live with the minor, discussed traveling to the minor’s home state to be with her, and suggested “running away” to another country to evade law enforcement.

Niksa had an initial appearance on January 29, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark, where he was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna commended the investigation conducted by FBI special agents, under Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, with the investigation leading to the charges.

The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.