Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Marangola, who handled the case, stated that in February 2015, the Rochester Police Department was alerted to text message communications between the defendant and a 14 year old girl as well as the exchange of provocative photographs on Facebook. The minor victim later told police that the two exchanged naked photos and one video.
The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Craig Hanesworth, and the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief James VanBrederode. The task force includes the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the Rochester Police Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
