Category: Security

Posted on

Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to New Child Pornography Charge

Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nicholas Mangione, 44, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession of child pornography following a prior conviction, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that in April 2013, Mangione was convicted of possession of child pornography and sentenced to serve 48 months in prison. On August 15, 2024, a federal search warrant was executed at Mangione’s residence after it was discovered he uploaded a file containing child pornography to the Snapchat server. During the search, Mangione’s cellular telephone was seized. An examination of the device uncovered approximately 20 images and 52 videos of child pornography. It was also determined that Mangione distributed child pornography to other individuals using the Telegram application in exchange for other child pornographic files.

On August 16, 2024, the defendant was arrested on New York State charges and was found to be in possession of an additional cell phone, which also contained images and videos of child pornography. Some of the child pornography possessed by Mangione depicted the sexual exploitation of an infant or toddler and depictions of violence against children.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.

# # # #

Posted on

Fairport Man Who Used Roblox to Attempt to Communicate with Minors for Sex Arrested

Source: US FBI

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Tony Rodriguez, 40, of Fairport, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with enticement and possession of child pornography, which carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on March 12, 2025, the leader of an online community group, which exposes child predators, reached out to the Fairport Police Department regarding a message from the Facebook account “Tony Rodrigo,” later identified as the defendant. According to the community member, Rodriguez was told that the person he was communicating with was an 11-year-old girl named Emiry. The complaint states that the conversation began as causal small talk, but quickly turned sexual, initiated by Rodriguez. Rodriguez sent lewd pictures and offered to meet Emiry to have sex. On March 12, 2025, Rodriguez arrived at a pre-determined location, the Fairport Library, to meet Emiry. Instead, the community member arrived and confronted Rodriguez about his explicit online conversations with an alleged 11-year-old. The confrontation prompted the police to be called by a concerned citizen. The community member told police that Rodriguez admitted to meeting Emiry for sex and acknowledged communicating online with other minors between 13 to 16 years old in a similar manner. Prior to police arriving, Rodriguez left the scene.

On April 15, 2025, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence located in the Town of Perinton for a report that a male named “Tony Rodrigo” was at the location to meet a 13-year-old for a sexual encounter. The report was filed by individual who oversees another online volunteer group on Facebook which exposes child predators. This individual poses as a 13-year-old girl. According to the individual, “Tony Rodrigo” reached out on Facebook to who he believed was a 13-year-old-girl. Rodriguez stated he wanted to meet up “”to have sex” with the minor. On April 15, 2025, Rodriguez showed up at the predetermined location and was confronted by the individual. Sheriff’s deputies located Rodriguez and detained him.

Rodriguez utilized Roblox, an online gaming platform, to connect with the alleged 11- and 13-year-old girls on Facebook.

A search of two cellular telephones seized from Rodriguez recovered approximately six images of child pornography.

In addition to Facebook, an Instagram account associated with Rodriguez was located, on which he appeared to be communication with a 13-year-old minor. Rodriguez was also active on the social media platform Reddit, specifically a subreddit community associated with teens.

Rodriguez made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was detained.

The complaint is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, and the Fairport Police Department, under the direction of Chief Matthew Barnes.   

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.     

# # # #

Posted on

Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice: 205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-Led Nationwide Crackdown, Including Four in the Western District of New York

Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, NY – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

“These arrests should send a clear message that, together with our law enforcement partners at all levels, we will track down and prosecute those who target our children,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. “Our office will never stop doing all that we can to protect children from these harmful predators.”

“Operation Restore Justice’ sends a powerful message: the FBI is unwavering and united in its fight to protect our children,” said Matthew Miraglia, the Special Agent-in- Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “These arrests demonstrate the unwavering dedication of the FBI and our law enforcement partners. Our work does not stop here. The FBI is committed to holding predators accountable and pursuing justice for victims.”

Arrested in the Western District of New York and charged with possession of child pornography are:

Brian Keith, 68, of Niagara Falls, NY. During the execution of a search warrant on March 13, 2025, at Keith’s residence, Niagara Falls Police officers seized a DVR, laptop, five hard drives and two tablets. A review of the electronic devices recovered images of child pornography. Keith is a registered Level 3 sex offender.

Matthew Kowalski, 25, of Kenmore, NY. In October 2024, he was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Minor, a New York State Penal Law violation. On April 11, 2025, during an unannounced home visit by Erie County Probation Officers, a cellular phone with an SD card was found, which Kowalski was not permitted to possess. A search of the phone and SD card recovered multiple images and videos of suspected child pornography.

Samari Thompson, 20, of Buffalo, NY. On November 4, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence, seizing electronic devices, including a cellular telephone. A search of the cell phone recovered 48 images and 16 videos of suspected child pornography. Some of the images and videos depicted infants.

Jamie R. Anderson, 25, of Buffalo, NY. In January 2022, Anderson was sentenced to 10 years’ probation for Possessing a Sexual Performance of a Minor, a New York State Penal Law violation. On July 3, 2024, the social media application Kik reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that 13 video and image files of apparent child pornography were uploaded to their server. Subsequent investigation traced the uploaded files to Anderson. The investigation also determined that Anderson was the subject of two other tipline reports.

Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

Other online resources:

Electronic Press Kit

Violent Crimes Against Children

How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

Arrests in the Western District of New York are the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, the New York State Police, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, the Erie County Probation Department, and the Niagara Falls Police Department.

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

# # # #

Posted on

Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice

Source: US FBI

205 Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including 8 in the Northern District of New York

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 offenders in the nationwide crackdown.  The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country. 

“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

“Operation Restore Justice represents our unwavering commitment to ridding our communities of child sex abusers,” said United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Last week I joined the FBI in Delaware County as they arrested one of these defendants, and I saw firsthand the hard work and dedication of the agents and task force officers working these cases. I am also proud to say that my Office accepted every one of the cases presented to us for prosecution.”

“Operation Restore Justice perfectly demonstrates the depth, breadth, and reach of the FBI,” said Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albany Field Office. “Thanks to the invaluable assistance provided by our state and local law enforcement partners on our Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force, eight dangerous predators were taken off the street in just five days. The FBI will continue to use every resource available to find and arrest these predators and ensure they can never hurt another child.”

Those arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing CSAM while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, Virginia, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents following an online safety presentation at a Capital Region school.

A criminal complaint or indictment is merely an allegation. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

In the Northern District of New York, those arrested and charged, in separate cases, are:

  • Jerry N. Butler III, age 19, of Walton, New York, who used a social messaging application to request and receive sexually explicit content from a minor. He faces at least 15 years in prison. Butler III is believed to be involved in the “764” network, whose members seek to corrupt and exploit vulnerable populations, including minors. Butler III is believed to have administrated an online offshoot of 764 that operated across multiple social media channels and whose members engaged in extortion of minors, coercive self-harm, harm to animals, and the production and dissemination of CSAM. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting this case.
  • Steven Campbell, age 27, a citizen of the United Kingdom, who distributed CSAM to someone he believed to be a parent who would make their child available for Campbell to sexually abuse. Campbell also sent money to the parent so that the parent could bring the child to the United Kingdom for Campbell to sexually abuse. He faces at least 15 years in prison if convicted of all charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle is prosecuting this case.
  • Max Fishkind, age 24, of New Paltz, New York, who enticed a Maryland child into creating and sending him self-produced child sexual abuse material over Snapchat. He faces at least 15 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting this case.
  • Kenneth House, age 59, of Pine Planes, New York, who communicated with an individual to discuss and plan his sexual abuse of a person he believed to be a child. House was arrested after arriving at a location in Albany County and paying $140 to a woman he believed to be the child’s caretaker. He faces at least 10 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Paulbeck is prosecuting this case.
  • Terry Mead Jr., age 49, of Watervliet, New York, who used his cell phone to photograph the genitals of a 4-year-old child and distributed that photograph to another person. He faces at least 15 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda is prosecuting this case.
  • Devine Ravine, age 20, of Riverside, California, who persuaded and induced a Rensselaer County minor to create child sexual abuse material, which the child then sent to Ravine over the Internet. He faces at least 15 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikayla Espinosa and Rick Belliss are prosecuting this case.
  • Bryan Silva, age 32, a Brazilian citizen residing in Schenectady, New York, who was arrested after responding to an advertisement on a social networking site offering sex with someone who appeared to be a child. He faces at least 10 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikayla Espinosa and Nicholas Walter are prosecuting this case.
  • Gary Yorkshire, age 68, of Scotia, New York, who communicated with an individual to discuss and plan his sexual abuse of a person he believed to be a child. Yorkshire was arrested after arriving at a location in Albany County and paying $250 to a woman he believed to be the child’s caretaker. He faces at least 10 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Paulbeck is prosecuting this case.

If convicted, each defendant would also face a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, a fine, special assessments, mandatory restitution, and forfeiture of the device(s) used to commit the offense(s). A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Each defendant, if convicted, would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The FBI Albany Field Office and its Child Exploitation Task Force are investigating these cases.  The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force is comprised of members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, and Police Departments in Cohoes, Colonie, Rotterdam, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Troy, and Watervliet.

This effort follows the Department of Justice’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, underscoring the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

Other online resources:

Violent Crimes Against Children

How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

Posted on

Salina Sex Offender Indicted for Possessing Child Pornography

Source: US FBI

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Kenneth Martin, age 69, of Salina, New York, was arraigned last week on an indictment charging him with possession of child pornography. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Martin knowingly possessed an electronic device containing numerous graphic image and video files of children being sexually abused. This conduct follows Martin’s 2020 conviction in Onondaga County Court for Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child. The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charge filed against Martin carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and mandatory sex offender registration.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

The FBI is investigating this case with assistance from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

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.

Posted on

Cazenovia Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

Source: US FBI

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dean Dellas, age 40, of Cazenovia, New York, was arraigned Tuesday in federal court on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to the indictment, beginning no later than June 2021 through November 2023, Dellas acted as a financial advisor for the investment accounts of clients in the Syracuse area. The indictment alleges that Dellas fraudulently induced those clients to sign paperwork that authorized Dellas to take advisor fees from their accounts well in excess of what they actually agreed to. For other accounts, Dellas fraudulently induced the clients to sign paperwork granting him trading and withdrawal authority over their accounts, according to the indictment. This account-opening paperwork misrepresented Dellas’s relationship to the clients and falsely stated that Dellas received no compensation for providing investment advice. The account-opening documents that Dellas induced the client to sign also falsely stated that the client wanted to engage in high-risk forms of investment, according to the indictment. To conceal the fraud, Dellas allegedly took steps to conceal account statements from his clients and at times impersonated clients in communicating with brokerage firms. According to the indictment, Dellas stole approximately $642,000 from his victims through unauthorized withdrawals and advisor fees.

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Dellas was released pending a trial to be scheduled later this year before Chief United States District Court Judge Brenda K. Sannes.

The wire fraud charges filed against Dellas carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice any gain or loss determined by the court. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a sentence of 2 years’ federal prison consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed. The charges also carry a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie and Michael F. Perry are prosecuting the case.

Posted on

California Man Arrested and Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child

Source: US FBI

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Devin Ravine, a/k/a Derek Johnson, age 20, of Riverside, California, was arrested on Friday on charges of sexual exploitation of a child. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

According to a criminal complaint, from on or about March 30, 2025 through April 1, 2025, Ravine persuaded and induced a Rensselaer County minor to create child sexual abuse material, which the child then sent to Ravine over the Internet. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “This case is the result of what I like to call ‘Operation It’s Not Your Fault’ – FBI agents visit schools all over the Northern District of New York to educate students about internet safety and sextortion. Our hope is to help students avoid these terrible situations, and also to encourage them to come forward if they believe they are a victim of a crime. Students may be embarrassed, ashamed, feeling that they’re at fault, afraid to tell their parents, and one of our messages is – no, it’s not your fault, and you should tell us if there are predators who have targeted you.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: “This case truly exemplifies the strength and reach of the FBI. It should also put predators on notice, as it doesn’t matter where you’re committing these heinous crimes, we will use every resource we have to find you and ensure you can never hurt another child again.”

Ravine made an initial appearance on Friday in the Central District of California and has a detention hearing there scheduled for tomorrow. He faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a supervised release term of at least 5 years and up to life. Ravine may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim of his offense and forfeit any devices used in the offense. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Ravine would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The FBI Albany Field Office is investigating this case with assistance from the FBI Riverside Field Office, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Rick Belliss and Mikayla Espinosa are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

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.

Links to coverage of news conference:

WRGB/CBS:

https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/fbi-us-attorney-to-brief-on-new-case-child-online-safety-initiative-monday

WTEN/ABC:

https://www.news10.com/news/crime/california-man-accused-of-sexually-exploiting-capital-region-child/

WNYT/NBC:

https://wnyt.com/top-stories/california-man-accused-of-sending-sexually-explicit-messages-with-rensselaer-county-girl/

WRVO/Public Radio:

https://www.wrvo.org/2025-04-28/albany-u-s-attorney-wants-to-make-telecom-companies-monitor-texts-for-sexual-predators

WAMC/NPR:

https://www.wamc.org/news/2025-04-28/u-s-attorney-fbi-special-agent-in-charge-discuss-latest-efforts-on-childrens-online-safety-in-albany

Posted on

Syracuse Man Sentenced for Distribution, Transportation, and Possession of Child Pornography

Source: US FBI

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Paul Mignacca, age 46, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to 78 months in federal prison for distribution, transportation, and possession of child pornography. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig R. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Between September 2023 and February 2024, Mignacca uploaded several videos of child sexual abuse material to a social media application group chat dedicated to sharing child pornography files, as well as to Mignacca’s private account on an Internet-based filesharing application. Law enforcement arrested Mignacca in April 2024 and seized his electronic devices. Digital forensic analysis revealed that Mignacca possessed more than 3,400 files constituting child pornography.

United States Chief District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered Mignacca to serve a 10-year term of post-incarceration supervised release, to pay a total of $60,000 in restitution to children identified from the child pornography he possessed, and to forfeit the electronic device he used to commit the offenses. Mignacca will also be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis prosecuted the case as a part of Project Safe Childhood.

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.

Posted on

Shiprock Man Charged in Connection to Stabbing Incident

Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon after he allegedly stabbed a man multiple times during an altercation near Shiprock.

According to court documents, on the night of April 19, 2025, Navajo Police Department officers responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing in Shiprock, New Mexico. Officers located the victim who had sustained three stab wounds to his upper and lower back. The victim was transported to the hospital for emergency treatment.

An investigation led by the FBI and Navajo Nation Criminal Investigators revealed that Matthew Charley, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, approached the victim and two witnesses. After a brief verbal exchange, the witnesses left the area, leaving Charley and the victim alone. When the witnesses returned a short time later, they found the victim had been stabbed. The victim identified Charley as his assailant.

Law enforcement collected witness statements, obtained video evidence, and reviewed surveillance footage that corroborated the description and movements of the suspect.

Screenshot of video showing Charley

Charley is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Charley faces 10 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Posted on

Shiprock Man Charged with Assault in Shooting

Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon following a shooting incident outside a restaurant.

According to court documents, Navajo Nation Police responded to a 911 call reporting that an individual was shot in the hand in front of the Little Caesars Restaurant in Shiprock. Officers located the suspect, identified as Terrold Tyler, 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, near the scene carrying a black backpack that contained a homemade firearm and five live shotgun shells. Tyler was detained without incident.

Investigators determined that Tyler and the victim were involved in an argument behind the restaurant prior to the shooting. Tyler allegedly produced the homemade shotgun and shot the victim in the left hand. Paramedics responded to the scene, but the victim declined medical treatment.  A social media video depicting Tyler with the firearm was also recovered as evidence.

Tyler is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Tyler faces up to 10 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.