Local Karate Instructor Admits to Producing Child Pornography
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK - Ryan Staples, 37, of Chateaguay, pled guilty to three counts of production of child pornography today in United States District Court in Albany, New York, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge James Spero.
United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian stated: “We will continue to aggressively pursue anyone and everyone who seeks to traumatize and sexually exploit our children. I commend the Department of Homeland Security and their investigators who worked so hard to bring this defendant to justice."
“Child pornography creates a permanent record of a child’s sexual exploitation and each time it’s shared online, that child is victimized again," said Spero. "Traumatizing children for sexual purposes is one of the most despicable crimes HSI investigates. HSI will continue to relentlessly pursue child predators to rescue innocent victims and bring their abusers to justice."
STAPLES faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment for fifteen years on each count and a maximum sentence of imprisonment for thirty years on each count, a lifetime term of supervised release, a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. STAPLES, who was remanded, will be sentenced in Albany on Sept. 11, 2014 by United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy.
Staples pled guilty to three counts of production of child pornography involving three different victims. Staples admitted that he videotaped and took photographs of himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the three minor victims.
This prosecution resulted from an investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Rouses Point. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Kopita.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
