By CASEY RYAN VOCK
TUPPER LAKE — A Long Island man is accused of committing sexual crimes against a Tupper Lake minor after communicating with the girl via Internet and cell phone.
Fahad Sultan, 23, was arrested Thursday at his Levittown residence and charged with two counts of third-degree rape, three counts of third-degree criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child.
The arrest of Sultan, who also goes by Nicholas Sultan, followed an investigation into Internet chats and cell-phone conversations he had with the girl, who is under 17 years old and a resident of Tupper Lake.
Sultan then allegedly traveled to Tupper Lake and committed a series of sexual offenses over the course of two days before returning to his home on Long Island, according to State Police.
After the girl reported the crimes, the Tupper Lake Village Police Department was assisted by investigators from the New York State Police Computer Crime Unit’s Northern Region in gathering and investigating digital and other evidence.
Investigators with the Computer Crime Unit obtained and executed a search warrant for Sultan’s residence, vehicle, computer and cell phone to find additional evidence.
Sultan was subsequently arrested at his residence by investigators with the Computer Crime Unit’s Southern Region and State Police troopers.
Members of Tupper Lake Village Police traveled to Albany, where Sultan was turned over to them by investigators.
He was transported to Tupper Lake and arraigned in Tupper Lake Village Court.
Sultan was sent to Franklin County Jail, where he was being held Tuesday night for lack of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.
“I am grateful for the help from the New York State Police Computer Crime Unit for their expertise in the case,” Tupper Lake Police Chief Thomas Fee said in a news release. “And I also want to acknowledge the outstanding work of several of our own officers in connection with this case.”
