BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Sherrod Ogletree, 20, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years and a $250,000 fine.
“For the second time in three days, social media was the avenue by which a defendant gained access to a child, with serious consequences ensuing thereafter," said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Just as parents go to great lengths to protect their children from street criminals and predators, the public needs to be particularly vigilant to the dangers lurking on-line. Also for the second time this week, today's case demonstrates the pernicious link between child pornography and the trafficking in children"
“Sherrod Ogletree’s arrest won’t repair the damage he has caused to his victims but should serve as a warning to individuals engaged in this type of depraved behavior. HSI and our partners will continue to pursue individuals who prey on children and we are determined to bring exploiters like Ogletree to justice. " said James Spero, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Buffalo."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on Aug. 20, 2015, a minor victim (victim 1) contacted the Buffalo Police Department indicating that she was being “sextorted" through Facebook by an account known as “Mrss Guwop." Victim 1 was instructed by “Mrss Guwop" to contact “her manager" and to pay $20, give a Samsung Galaxy electronic Tablet and have sex with “Mrss Guwop’s" manager. If victim 1 refused, “Mrss Guwop" threatened to post screenshots of conversations between “Mrss Guwop" and victim 1 during which victim 1 agreed to work as a prostitute.
Law enforcement officers had victim 1 contact “the manager" from her cellular telephone. A male answered the phone and victim 1 told him she was on her way to meet him. Victim 1 was instructed to go to a residence on Woodlawn Avenue in Buffalo. Law enforcement officers went with victim 1 to the residence and Ogletree, identified as “Mrss Guwop," was arrested on state charges.
Subsequent investigation determined a second minor victim (victim 2). A review of a Facebook conversation between “Mrss Guwop" and victim 2 revealed that “Mrss Guwop" knowingly solicited the production of pornographic images from victim 2. Victim 2 stated numerous times that she was a minor but “Mrss Guwop" continued to ask for pornographic images to be sent. During a subsequent interview with law enforcement officers, victim 2 indicated that she took pictures but never sent them to anyone when in fact she did send the pictures to “Mrss Guwop" through Facebook.
The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.
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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
