ROCHESTER, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Frank Salerno, 30, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty, before U.S. Chief Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., to receiving child pornography The charge carries a minimum penalty of 5 years imprisonment, a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that in 2019, Salerno engaged in sexually explicit online conversations with a 14 year-old minor who lived in Western New York. In the conversations, Salerno induced the minor to produce and send Salerno child pornography. Salerno was ultimately reported to police, and he was arrested in Massachusetts in December 2019.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 7, 2020, before Judge Geraci. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
