U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced that Maria D’Amato, a 30-year-old resident of Tonawanda, New York, has been sentenced to 108 months in prison for the receipt of child pornography. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright explained that in June 2022, D’Amato knowingly received images and videos of child pornography from a minor female on her cell phone. D’Amato met the 14-year-old victim through another 14-year-old and communicated with the victim via text and online applications like Snapchat. They engaged in sexual acts which were recorded by D’Amato using either her or the victim’s cell phone. These videos were sent to D’Amato at her request.

The investigation leading to this sentencing was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, led by Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, along with the Town of Tonawanda Police Department under Chief James Stauffiger.