Travis Corley, age 46, of Baldwinsville, New York, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with distribution of child pornography, according to an announcement on July 28 by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone of Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo.
The complaint alleges that Corley used a Peer-to-Peer network to share child pornography with other users over the internet. Corley had his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Mitchell J. Katz on July 16. At a detention hearing the following day, he was released pending trial. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum of twenty years, as well as potential fines up to $250,000 and supervised release ranging from five years to life. Sentencing will be determined by a judge based on applicable statutes and guidelines.
“Our partners at Homeland Security Investigations work tirelessly to protect children from online predators,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “Their dedication has ensured that countless offenders are brought to justice. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative that empowers law enforcement to use advanced investigative tools to identify and stop those who exploit children, reinforcing our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the most vulnerable.”
“The defendant’s alleged use of online platforms to distribute child pornography represents a depraved assault on safety, dignity, and innocence,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone. “HSI Syracuse is fully committed to aggressively identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice those who prey on children and victimized communities, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect them.”
The charges in the complaint are accusations only; Corley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Homeland Security Investigations is leading the investigation with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York covers 32 counties across northern and central New York—an area exceeding 30,000 square miles with about 3.4 million residents—and prosecutes federal criminal cases while defending civil matters for the United States; it operates offices in Albany, Binghamton, Plattsburgh, and Syracuse; employs about 50 Assistant United States Attorneys along with more than 50 support staff; coordinates law enforcement initiatives; conducts outreach for crime deterrence; fosters public trust; all as part of its role within the Department of Justice, according to its official website.