ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Christian Michael Stutes, 25, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of receipt and distribution of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that between April 12 and Dec. 13, 2019, the defendant engaged in sexually explicit conversations via text message with an individual he believed to be the father of a 10-year-old male. The individual was actually an undercover FBI agent. During their conversations, Stutes discussed paying $150 to have sex with the 10-year-old male, and on Dec. 13, 2019, the defendant was arrested after he went to Brighton in order to have sex with the child. In addition, the defendant knowingly received and distributed images of child pornography. On the date of his arrest, Stutes possessed approximately 61 videos and 450 images of child pornography. Some of the images included prepubescent minors, as well depictions of violence.
At the time of his arrest, the defendant was employed as a teacher’s aide at a local childcare facility and was previously employed at various children’s camps.
The sentencing 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. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
