BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A University of Michigan professor was arrested in Broward County, Florida, on Friday and accused of traveling across state lines to have sex with a 14-year-old boy.
James Cavalcoli, 51, of Ann Arbor, was arrested in Weston, Florida, after traveling from Michigan to meet a the boy for sex. Authorities say Cavalcoli was actually communicating with an undercover police officer who he thought to be the boy's dad.
Cavalcoli made arrangements to meet the child through the undercover FDLE agent. The officer said he began communicating with a "Jim" on a website that catered to men discussing fetishes, child pornography and sexual activity with young boys around Thanksgiving in 2013.
Investigators say some of Cavalcoli's devices, including a personal laptop, were confiscated at the time and place of the arrest as evidence. Those devices are undergoing forensic examination.
"Mr. Cavalcoli has worked for the University for about 13 years," the school said in a statement. "We are currently reviewing the matter and will cooperate fully with law enforcement investigators."
Cavalcoli is an assistant professor of computational medicine and bioinformatics at U of M, according to school records. He was booked into the Broward County Jail pending transport to federal court in Fort Lauderdale, where he will be charged.