A Quebec man who lured a 14-year-old Pennsylvania girl over the internet has pleaded guilty in a U.S. court.

David Gellad, 44, from Rosemère, Que., pleaded guilty in a Delaware court today to a charge of enticing a minor. He made the admission as part of a plea agreement.

“This girl now has some serious issues moving on in her life,” said John Kelleghan, a Homeland Security special agent who has been leading the investigation.

According to Delaware Department of Justice, Gellad began exchanging messages and photos with the girl in October 2010. They corresponded largely through instant messaging and photo sharing applications on mobile devices.

Justice officials say Gellad travelled several times between March and June 2011 to the girl's south Pennsylvania home and to Delaware to engage in sexual activities.

After the girl's parents alerted police, investigators then used the victim's email account to correspond with Gellad.

Police used those conversations to get an arrest warrant.

In July 2011, Gellad was taken into custody at the U.S. border in Swanton, Vt., while travelling with his wife and two children.

He has been in police custody since then.

Gellad was originally charged with two counts of travelling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

However, those charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Gellad faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and the possibility of a life sentence.

He will reappear in court on Jan. 24 for sentencing.