ALBANY, NEW YORK - George Muzio, Jr., age 34, of Cohoes, New York, was charged and arrested last week for possessing child pornography.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and James C. Spero, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations.
Muzio was charged with possession of child pornography by a criminal complaint filed on May 3, 2016. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
If convicted on the possession charge, Muzio faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a mandatory term of supervised release of 5 years and up to life, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and a maximum $250,000 fine.
Muzio appeared yesterday for a detention hearing before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart. Judge Stewart released Muzio to home confinement, with limited exceptions including for court appearances and work. Muzio must also wear an electronic location monitor.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon B. Shinerock.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
