ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Steven Hathaway, 42, of De Ruyter, NY, pleaded guilty to attempted receipt of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant engaged in online communications with an individual he believed to be a 12 year old girl. Over the course of several weeks, Hathaway engaged in sexually explicit conversations during which he asked for nude photographs and requested that the child meet in person to engage in sexual activity. At one point, the defendant purchased an iPhone for the child, which he placed in a location near the child’s home, so that the two could communicate and the child could send him photographs. Unbeknownst to Hathaway, the child was actually an undercover New York State Police Investigator.
On March 23, 2018, the defendant arranged to meet the child and was arrested by members of the New York State Police and Homeland Security Investigations.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eric Laughton, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 20, 2019, before Judge Siragusa.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
