Robert LaVair, a 19-year-old resident of Louisville, New York, has pled guilty to charges related to receiving and possessing child pornography. This development was announced by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
During his plea, LaVair admitted to downloading numerous images and videos of child pornography from the dark web in January 2024. Additionally, he confessed to having sexually explicit material involving a nine-year-old child that he created while the child was asleep.
LaVair's sentencing will be determined by Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes based on legal statutes and guidelines. If the agreed-upon disposition is accepted during sentencing on July 18, 2025, LaVair faces a federal prison sentence ranging from 14 to 15 years, followed by 15 years of post-release supervision. He will also be required to pay restitution to the victims and register as a sex offender after release.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and the New York State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Adrian S. LaRochelle and Benjamin Gillis under Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is an initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. It involves coordination among U.S. Attorneys' Offices and other federal, state, and local resources to address internet-based exploitation of children and assist in rescuing victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
