Just as it is illegal for a person to offer sex in exchange for something of value, it is also against the law to request sexual acts in exchange for money. New York Penal Law §230.04 states that it is a class A misdemeanor to patronize any person for prostitution. However, these charges can become much more serious if the aggravating factor of age plays a role.
The charges increase to a Class E felony if the person who a defendant is requesting sex from is under 15 years old.