Michael Cardwell, a 39-year-old resident of Rensselaer County, has pleaded guilty to charges of sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Cardwell admitted to sexually abusing a girl approximately seven years old over several months and creating explicit images of her. He also confessed to possessing around 1,000 CSAM files obtained from the internet, including images depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexual activities.
Sentencing is set for May 23, 2025, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Cardwell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and could receive up to 50 years in prison. Additional penalties include post-release supervision ranging from five years to life, a fine up to $250,000, special assessments, restitution to victims, and forfeiture of property used in committing the offenses. Upon release from prison, Cardwell will be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force with assistance from the New York State Police and the Troy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case under Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and is led by United States Attorney’s Offices along with the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). It aims to utilize federal, state, and local resources for locating, apprehending, and prosecuting individuals exploiting children via the Internet while identifying and rescuing victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
