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Child Pornography

Child Porn Charges: Capital Region Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say Child Porn Charges: Capital Region Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say
Child Porn Charges: Capital Region Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say Federal prosecutors are pursuing child pornography charges against a man from the region after he allegedly sent and received numerous illicit images of children.  Taykwun Smoaks, age 32, of Albany, was arraigned on charges that he distributed, received, and possessed child pornography in Albany federal court on Friday, April 12. According to investigators, Smoaks sent and received images and videos of child pornography over the internet between February and March 2023. The illicit images were reportedly found on both his computer and an external hard drive. If convicted, he face…
Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images
Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images Years in federal prison await a man from the region who confessed to blackmailing underage girls into sending him sexually explicit images. Richard Nejame, age 29, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of receiving and attempting to receive child pornography in Albany federal court on Thursday, April 11. Prosecutors said Nejame messaged several underage girls on social media apps, including Snapchat, while pretending to be a teenage boy between October 2022 and May 2023. As part of his guilty plea, he admitted that he then convinced the girls to take nude pictures and videos of…
Thousands Of Child Porn Photos, Videos Found On Capital Region Man's Computer Thousands Of Child Porn Photos, Videos Found On Capital Region Man's Computer
Thousands Of Child Porn Photos, Videos Found On Capital Region Man's Computer A man from the region could spend decades behind bars after being found with thousands of images depicting child sex abuse. Albany County resident Scott Weinbloom, age 49, of Latham, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in Albany federal court on Thursday, Feb. 1. According to prosecutors, a search of Weinbloom’s Latham residence in May 2022 turned up 1,300 photos and 1,500 videos of child pornography that had been stored on a USB flash drive. Investigators also found two computers that had been used to store and view the illicit images. Weinbloom faces up to 20 years in federal…
Capital Region Man Admits Storing Child Porn On USB Flash Drive Capital Region Man Admits Storing Child Porn On USB Flash Drive
Capital Region Man Admits Storing Child Porn On USB Flash Drive A 40-year-old man from the region could spend decades behind bars for having child pornography. Schenectady County resident Aaron Griesche, of Niskayuna, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in Albany federal court on Thursday, Jan. 11. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Griesche admitted to storing illicit images of children on a USB flash drive that was found in his home in July 2021. He confessed to purchasing the memory stick online and then transferring videos depicting child sex abuse from the internet to the device. The case was investigated b…
Capital Region Man Molested 6-Year-Old, Photographed Her Genitals, Feds Say Capital Region Man Molested 6-Year-Old, Photographed Her Genitals, Feds Say
Capital Region Man Molested 6-Year-Old, Photographed Her Genitals, Feds Say A 73-year-old man from the region is facing federal charges after allegedly sexually abusing a young girl who was in his care. Albany County resident Daniel Fuino, of Slingerlands, was indicted on multiple counts of sexual exploitation in Albany federal court in November 2023. The US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District announced the charges Tuesday, Nov. 28, following an investigation by FBI Albany’s Child Exploitation Task Force. According to prosecutors, Fuino repeatedly molested the victim between 2022 and May 2023, starting when the girl was 6 years old. He is also accused of t…
Man Accused Of Possessing Child Porn In Region After Search Of Home Man Accused Of Possessing Child Porn In Region After Search Of Home
Man Accused Of Possessing Child Porn In Region After Search Of Home A 37-year-old man from the region is facing charges after authorities discovered him to be in possession of child pornography, police announced.  Dutchess County resident Daniel Arnold of Holmes, age 37, was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 22 in connection with an investigation into child pornography conducted by the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office and the US Department of Homeland Security, the Sheriff's Office announced.  According to authorities, Arnold is charged with possessing a sexual performance by a child, a felony.  As part of the investigation leading to Arnold's arr…
Condoms, Rope Found On NY Man Who Blackmailed Minors Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say Condoms, Rope Found On NY Man Who Blackmailed Minors Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say
Condoms, Rope Found On NY Man Who Blackmailed Minors Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say A New York man is in federal custody after allegedly blackmailing several underage girls into sending him sexually explicit images. Long Island resident Brandon Kern, age 29, of Bayport, was arraigned on multiple charges in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, Nov. 22. An investigation found that between December 2020 and October 2021, he posed as a teenager on Snapchat in order to convince at least six underage girls to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Some of the victims were as young as 12 years old, according to the FBI. When the girls attempted to block him, Kern al…
Cyber Tip Leads To Child Porn Charges For Capital Region 19-Year-Old Cyber Tip Leads To Child Porn Charges For Capital Region 19-Year-Old
Cyber Tip Leads To Child Porn Charges For Capital Region 19-Year-Old A 19-year-old man from the region is facing charges after he was allegedly caught with child pornography. Malachi Fennicks, of Schenectady, was arrested Friday, Nov. 17, following an investigation by New York State Police. Troopers began investigating Fennicks after receiving a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators found him in possession of multiple images consistent with child sexual exploitation, police said. Fennicks is charged with promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing a sexual performance by a child, both felonies. …
Child Porn Arrest: School Therapist From NY Coaxed Teen Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say Child Porn Arrest: School Therapist From NY Coaxed Teen Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say
Child Porn Arrest: School Therapist From NY Coaxed Teen Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say A recently retired high school therapist is facing federal charges after allegedly coaxing an underage teen into sending sexually explicit photos. Orange County resident Michael Meyers, age 62, of Port Jervis, was arraigned in White Plains federal court on Monday, Nov. 20. According to the criminal complaint, an FBI investigation found that Meyers communicated with a 16-year-old minor on the app Discord. During their conversation, he allegedly asked the victim to send him several sexually explicit images and the victim complied. Meyers worked as an occupational therapist at Oceanside High…
Child Porn Arrest: Man From Region Nabbed By State Police Following Tip Child Porn Arrest: Man From Region Nabbed By State Police Following Tip
Child Porn Arrest: Man From Region Nabbed By State Police Following Tip A man was charged with two counts of possession of a sexual performance by a child after New York State Police received a tip. Dutchess County resident Charles Beisser, age 61, of Dover, was arrested on Monday, Nov. 6. According to Trooper AJ Hicks, of the New York State Police, the department received a tip setting off an investigation that determined Beisser was in possession of child pornography. Beisser was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the town of Dover Court on Monday, Nov.13.
'Special Kind Of Evil': Child Sex Trafficker From Capital Region Gets 40 Years In Prison 'Special Kind Of Evil': Child Sex Trafficker From Capital Region Gets 40 Years In Prison
'Special Kind Of Evil': Child Sex Trafficker From Capital Region Gets 40 Years In Prison A convicted sex trafficker will spend decades in prison for forcing underage girls into prostitution. New York resident Christopher Thomas, age 40, of Colonie in Albany County, was sentenced to 40 years behind bars Monday, Oct. 30, in Albany federal court. According to prosecutors, Thomas coerced numerous vulnerable children and young women, some as young as 16, to engage in sex work for his financial benefit between 2018 and 2020. His crimes spanned New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. In March 2023, following a 5-day trial, jurors convicted Thomas of 16 counts, including s…
Ex-Con Had Massive Child Porn Stash At Capital Region Home, Jury Finds Ex-Con Had Massive Child Porn Stash At Capital Region Home, Jury Finds
Ex-Con Had Massive Child Porn Stash At Capital Region Home, Jury Finds An ex-con from the region who spent years in prison could live out his days behind bars after getting caught again with child pornography. Greene County resident Gregory Kurzajczyk, age 76, of East Durham, was found guilty of multiple counts of child pornography possession after a three-day jury trial in Albany federal court Wednesday, Oct. 25. Kurzajczyk was on federal probation for prior child pornography convictions when a routine check of his East Durham home turned up multiple unauthorized computers and devices in February 2022, according to prosecutors. Police recovered three laptop …
Child Porn: Capital Region Man Caught With Hundreds Of Illicit Images Gets Federal Prison Child Porn: Capital Region Man Caught With Hundreds Of Illicit Images Gets Federal Prison
Child Porn: Capital Region Man Caught With Hundreds Of Illicit Images Gets Federal Prison A 38-year-old man from the region will spend years in federal prison for possessing child pornography. Daniel Quintero, of Schenectady, was sentenced to six years behind bars in federal court in Albany Tuesday, Sept. 26. It came after he admitted to downloading hundreds of videos and images depicting child sex abuse between May 2019 and March 2022. Investigators with the FBI’s Albany Child Exploitation Task Force found the illicit images on multiple electronic devices and a cloud storage account belonging to Quintero. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to complete 10 years…
Woman From Region Caught With Child Porn, Police Say Woman From Region Caught With Child Porn, Police Say
Woman From Region Caught With Child Porn, Police Say A woman from the region has been arrested after she was allegedly found to have child pornography. Following an ongoing investigation, Ulster County resident Jodi Judson, age 54, of Saugerties, was arrested  on Monday, Sept. 18 and charged with possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, a felony. She was released released on an appearance ticket to reappear in the Town of Saugerties Justice Court on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Leading up to the arrest, on Thursday, Aug. 3, the Saugerties Police Department was contacted by the Dallas Fort Worth Airport Police Departme…
Capital Region Man Sexually Abuses Children, Sends Victims Pornography, Police Say Capital Region Man Sexually Abuses Children, Sends Victims Pornography, Police Say
Capital Region Man Sexually Abuses Children, Sends Victims Pornography, Police Say A man from the region is charged with multiple sex crimes after allegedly abusing two young children and sending them pornography. Rensselaer County resident Daniel Landfear, age 34, of Troy, was arrested Tuesday, Aug. 29, by New York State Police. According to investigators, Landfear had sexual contact with a 10-year-old child and forcibly touched a 16-year-old. Both incidents reportedly occurred in Troy. Leandfear’s arrest came months after he was taken into custody in June 2023 for allegedly sending sexual images to a minor. Troopers with the New York State Police Internet Crimes Agai…
Child Porn Bust: Saratoga Springs Man Found With Illicit Images After Online Tip, Police Say Child Porn Bust: Saratoga Springs Man Found With Illicit Images After Online Tip, Police Say
Child Porn Bust: Saratoga Springs Man Found With Illicit Images After Online Tip, Police Say A 41-year-old man from the region is facing charges after he was allegedly caught with child pornography. Saratoga County resident Luke Fletcher, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested Monday, Aug. 28, by New York State Police. According to troopers, the agency received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, prompting a search of Fletcher’s home. Inside, they reportedly found images “consistent with child sexual exploitation.” Fletcher was arrested at his home on suspicion of possessing a sexual performance by a child, a felony. He was issued an appearance t…
Child Pornography Found On Saratoga Springs Man's Phone, Feds Say Child Pornography Found On Saratoga Springs Man's Phone, Feds Say
Child Pornography Found On Saratoga Springs Man's Phone, Feds Say A 41-year-old man from the region could spend years in prison after he was allegedly caught with child pornography, authorities said. Saratoga County resident Christopher Barry, of Saratoga Springs, was arrested and arraigned in federal court in Albany on Thursday, June 22. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Barry received sexually explicit images of children between June 2021 and January 2022. Investigators also found child pornography on two of his cell phones in February 2023, prosecutors said. Barry was charged with receipt and possession of child pornog…
Child Porn: Former Daycare Worker From Region Nabbed With Images, Videos, Police Say Child Porn: Former Daycare Worker From Region Nabbed With Images, Videos, Police Say
Child Porn: Former Daycare Worker From Region Nabbed With Images, Videos, Police Say A Hudson Valley man has been charged with possessing obscene sexual performances by a child after state police received a cyber tip. Dutchess County resident Ross E. Schultz, age 20, of Staatsburg, was arrested on Wednesday, June 14, by state police following an investigation. According to state police, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, state police investigators began an internet "crimes against children investigation" after they received a cyber tip from an online social media platform that the suspect, later identified as Schultz, was in possession of a media file containing child pornography.&…
Child Porn: Tip Lands Capital Region Man In Handcuffs On Sex Crimes Charges, Police Say Child Porn: Tip Lands Capital Region Man In Handcuffs On Sex Crimes Charges, Police Say
Child Porn: Tip Lands Capital Region Man In Handcuffs On Sex Crimes Charges, Police Say A 35-year-old man from the region is facing child pornography charges following a tip to law enforcement. Albany County resident Devan Zelezniak, of Guilderland, was arrested Wednesday, June 7, following an investigation by the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. According to police, Zelezniak possessed images “consistent with child sexual exploitation.” His arrest came after a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Zelezniak is charged with possessing a sexual performance by a child, a felony. He was …
Tip Lands Capital Region Man In Jail On Child Porn Charges, Police Say Tip Lands Capital Region Man In Jail On Child Porn Charges, Police Say
Tip Lands Capital Region Man In Jail On Child Porn Charges, Police Say A man from the region is facing child pornography charges following a cyber tip to police, authorities said. Albany County resident Jason Sammon, age 39, of Bethlehem, was arrested Thursday, May 4, days after troopers searched his home, according to New York State Police. During their search, troopers reportedly uncovered evidence that Sammon possessed images “consistent with child sexual exploitation,” police said. The investigation came after the agency received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Sammon was arraigned at the Bethlehem Town Court on t…
Capital Region Man Admits Sharing Child Porn Depicting 10-Year-Old Capital Region Man Admits Sharing Child Porn Depicting 10-Year-Old
Capital Region Man Admits Sharing Child Porn Depicting 10-Year-Old A man from the region is facing years in prison after admitting that he shared sexually explicit images of a child. Jonathan Waters, age 38, of Albany, pleaded guilty to one count of promoting a sexual performance by a child Tuesday, Jan. 10, in Albany County Court. Prosecutors said Waters possessed a video depicting a 10-year-old child engaging in sexual acts. He later uploaded the video to a peer-to-peer file sharing service. Waters now faces up to three years in prison followed by ten years of post-release supervision when he’s sentenced on Thursday, March 9.  He will also be req…
Kids As Young As 7 Shown In Child Pornography Found In Capital Region Home, Police Say Kids As Young As 7 Shown In Child Pornography Found In Capital Region Home, Police Say
Kids As Young As 7 Shown In Child Pornography Found In Capital Region Home, Police Say A 27-year-old man from the region is behind bars, accused of possessing child pornography. Albany Police began investigating Calvin Cross on Friday, Dec. 9, after receiving a tip that he had child pornography at his home on Picotte Drive, according to police. Detectives with the department’s Children and Family Services Unit subsequently discovered multiple images and videos in Cross' home depicting children between the ages of 7 and 12 engaging in sexual activity, police said. Cross was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 13, on one count of possession of obscene sexual performance by a child.…
Law Student From Area Who Hacked Classmates' Nude Photos, Had Child Porn Gets More Prison Time Law Student From Area Who Hacked Classmates' Nude Photos, Had Child Porn Gets More Prison Time
Law Student From Area Who Hacked Classmates' Nude Photos, Had Child Porn Gets More Prison Time A former law student from the region already in federal prison for stealing his college classmates’ naked photos and possessing child pornography will spend even more time behind bars. Michael Fish, age 27, of Albany, was sentenced to an additional 18 months in prison Wednesday, Oct. 26, in federal court in Albany after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice. Earlier Report: Albany Man Sentenced For Hacking Classmates' Nude Photos, Having Child Porn The time will be added to his original sentence of just over nine years in prison that was handed down in May 2022 following his guilt…
'Dangerous Predator': NY Man Who Made Sexually Explicit Videos Of 9-Year-Old Sentenced 'Dangerous Predator': NY Man Who Made Sexually Explicit Videos Of 9-Year-Old Sentenced
'Dangerous Predator': NY Man Who Made Sexually Explicit Videos Of 9-Year-Old Sentenced A New York man who filmed himself sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl and sent child pornography to minors is heading to prison, thanks in part to the bravery of a Connecticut teenager. Manuel Geovanny Torres Rivas, age 27, of Hempstead on Long Island, was sentenced to 25 years behind bars Friday, Oct. 14, in federal court in Central Islip. The sentence followed his January 2022 guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child. Federal investigators began looking into Torres Rivas after a 13-year-old Connecticut girl told her school that a user on the social networking app Snapchat had sent h…
Capital District Man Who Kept Child Porn In Folder Labeled 'Jail Bait' Sentenced Capital District Man Who Kept Child Porn In Folder Labeled 'Jail Bait' Sentenced
Capital District Man Who Kept Child Porn In Folder Labeled 'Jail Bait' Sentenced A Capital District man who admitted to keeping child pornography in a computer folder labeled “jailbait” is heading to federal prison. Albany resident Christopher Pratt, age 58, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars Tuesday, July 26, in federal court in Albany. It followed his prior guilty plea to charges of receiving and distributing child pornography. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the North District, Pratt admitted to receiving and sharing the illegal content over the internet through a peer-to-peer file sharing program. He also copped to possessing numerous child pornography…
Saratoga County Sex Offender Sentenced For Child Pornography Convictions Saratoga County Sex Offender Sentenced For Child Pornography Convictions
Saratoga County Sex Offender Sentenced For Child Pornography Convictions A Capital District man will spend more than a decade in federal prison after copping to child pornography charges. Saratoga County resident Zachary Duchesne, age 27, of Stillwater, was sentenced to 15 years behind bars Friday, July 22, in federal court in Albany. It followed his guilty plea to charges of transporting and possessing child pornography. Federal prosecutors said Duchesne used a Dropbox account to store, possess, and view images that depicted child sex abuse between December 2017 and June 2019. He also admitted to periodically transferring child pornography videos into his Dro…
Capital District Man Admits To Receiving, Possessing Child Porn Capital District Man Admits To Receiving, Possessing Child Porn
Capital District Man Admits To Receiving, Possessing Child Porn A man from the Capital District is facing years in prison after admitting to possessing child pornography. Rensselaer County resident Derek Luch, age 50, of Troy, pleaded guilty Tuesday, June 14, to receiving and possessing the illegal material, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the North District. Luch admitted that between May and October 2021 he used a file sharing service to download and receive numerous images depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, prosecutors said. He also copped to having the material when he was arrested in November 2021. Luch now faces bet…
Man Accused Of Possessing Child Porn ID'd As Ex-State Employee From Latham Man Accused Of Possessing Child Porn ID'd As Ex-State Employee From Latham
Man Accused Of Possessing Child Porn ID'd As Ex-State Employee From Latham A former New York State employee is facing serious prison time after he was allegedly found with sexually explicit images of children. Albany County resident Scott Weinbloom, age 47, of Latham, was arrested Friday, May 20, on a federal charge of possessing child pornography, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the North District. The illegal images and videos were found on an encrypted thumb drive that was found in his home Wednesday, May 18, prosecutors said. He appeared in federal court in Albany, where a judge ordered him detained while he awaits trial. Weinbloom had worked a…
Capital District Man Accused Of Possessing Child Pornography Capital District Man Accused Of Possessing Child Pornography
Capital District Man Accused Of Possessing Child Pornography A man from the Capital District is facing serious prison time after he was allegedly found with sexually explicit images of children. Latham resident Scott Weinbloom, age 47, was arrested Friday, May 20, on a federal charge of possessing child pornography, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the North District. The illegal images and videos were found on an encrypted thumb drive that was found in his home Wednesday, May 18, prosecutors said. Weinbloom appeared in federal court in Albany, where a judge ordered him detained while he awaits trial. If convicted, he could spend up to 20 …
Man From Capital District Sentenced For Hacking Classmates' Nude Photos, Possessing Child Porn Man From Capital District Sentenced For Hacking Classmates' Nude Photos, Possessing Child Porn
Man From Capital District Sentenced For Hacking Classmates' Nude Photos, Possessing Child Porn A former law student from the Capital District will spend the next decade in prison for stealing his college classmates’ naked photos and possessing child pornography. Michael Fish, age 26, of Albany, was sentenced to 111 months (just over nine years) behind bars Friday, May 20, on charges of computer fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the North District. It follows a 2020 guilty plea in which Fish admitted to hacking into dozens of female classmates’ school email accounts at SUNY-Plattsburgh and then using information from those accounts to access…
Former Resident In Region, Age 24, Sentenced For Child Porn Former Resident In Region, Age 24, Sentenced For Child Porn
Former Resident In Region, Age 24, Sentenced For Child Porn A 24-year-old has been sentenced for possessing and receiving child porn, federal authorities announced. Long Island resident Jacob Delaney, age 24, of Holtsville, was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the FBI on Thursday, May 12. As part of his guilty plea, Delaney admitted that between about September 2018 and December 12, 2019, as a resident of Ulster County, in the to…