Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Jeffrey Hart was Previously Convicted of the New York State Offense of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jeffrey Hart, age 50, of Saratoga Springs, New York, pled guilty last Thursday to distribution and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Hart admitted that, after being convicted of the New York State offense of possessing a sexual performance by a child, he used an Internet-based group messaging application to send a video depicting the sexual abuse of a child to another user. Hart also admitted to possessing at least 79 images and 29 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children on his cell phone.
Acting United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “This guilty plea demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting children from those who seek to exploit them. Individuals who traffic in child sexual abuse material inflict profound harm, and my Office will pursue them with the full force of federal law. We are grateful for the dedication of our law enforcement partners, who worked tirelessly to bring this defendant to justice.”
Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the HSI Buffalo Field Office, said: “Crimes involving the exploitation of children are among the most serious and disturbing we confront. HSI remains steadfast in its mission to investigate offenders, support victims, and collaborate closely with our federal and local partners. This case underscores that those who distribute or possess these materials will be held fully accountable.”
Sentencing is scheduled for April 3, 2026, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Because of his prior conviction, Hart faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison on the distribution charge and 10 years in prison on the possession charge; a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years in prison on the distribution charge and 20 years in prison on the possession charge; a fine of up to $250,000; and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and up to life. Hart also will have to pay restitution to victims, forfeit property he used to commit the offenses, and be required to register as a sex offender. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes a defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The case was investigated by HIS, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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