Internet predator sentenced to 20 years

A 47-year-old man formerly from South suburban Lansing has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for attempting to arrange sex with an underage girl.

The U.S. attorney's office for the northern district of Illinois said Wednesday that Martin Pazdzuira has been in custody since he was arrested in 2012. He pleaded guilty in April to one count of using the Internet to attempt to persuade a person he believed was a minor to engage in sexual conduct.

In August 2012, he began an Internet conversation with "Emily," whom he believed was 14. But "Emily" was actually an undercover police officer.

Pazdzuira was arrested when he arrived to meet the fictitious girl. He had planned to take her to a hotel in Indiana to have sex.