DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NEWS RELEASE
Agents with the New Mexico Department of Justice’s Special Investigations Bureau, working in coordination with the FBI, have arrested Thomas Nathaniel Goff. He is charged with Child Solicitation by Electronic Communication Device. Goff is accused of soliciting what he believed to be a 12-year-old girl for sex and attempting to meet the child in person with the intent to engage in sexual activity or an obscene performance.
The charge is a second-degree felony which carries a penalty of nine years if convicted.
“Goff’s predatory actions are absolutely reprehensible, and he has no business being anywhere near New Mexico’s children,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Thanks to the swift, coordinated work of our Special Investigations agents and our federal partners at the FBI, we were able to take him into custody. My office is now moving forward with prosecution, and we will continue to use every tool available to identify, arrest, and aggressively prosecute child predators.”
In September of 2025, an undercover FBI Agent created an online ad posing as a 12-year-old girl looking for friends. Using an alias, Goff responded to the ad on November 17, 2025, and after identifying that he was chatting with a minor, Goff began asking sexual questions and asking for graphic photographs. The online conversation moved to a text exchange, where Goff continued asking sexual questions and encouraged sexual behavior of the minor.
On November 19, 2025, Goff urged the minor to meet for physical, sexual engagement. Goff organized a meet-up at a nearby park in Albuquerque at the conclusion of school. On the afternoon of November 20, 2025, agents witnessed a vehicle entering the parking lot of the meetup location. Several times the vehicle circled the lot and then eventually stopped as the minor alerted Goff that she was on the other side of the park. Goff then texted the minor inviting her to get into his vehicle. Upon positive identification of the suspect, agents then engaged and apprehended Goff.
“Finding dangerous adults who are seeking out intimate relationships with children will always be our top priority,” said NMDOJ Director of Special Investigations Kyle Hartsock. “I’m happy to see Mr. Goff will be removed from our streets. Our agents, and the FBI worked together to ensure that Mr. Goff is not able to victimize minors.”
Goff has been booked and detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center. A copy of the lapel footage can be found here.