Max Fishkind, a 24-year-old resident of New Paltz, New York, faces charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, following announcement by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the FBI. Fishkind is accused of persuading a 15-year-old minor to produce and send explicit content over Snapchat on September 23, 2024. The minor initially believed Fishkind to be 17 but ceased communication after discovering his true age.
The investigation was initiated when parents in Maryland reported inappropriate exchanges between their child and Fishkind. This led the FBI to trace his relocation from Houston, Texas, to New Paltz, culminating in the charges filed. As of now, Fishkind remains innocent until proven guilty.
The case proceedings began with Fishkind's first court appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, where he was detained. A detention hearing is set for May 5. If convicted, Fishkind could receive a prison sentence ranging from 15 to 30 years, alongside a potential fine of $250,000 and a supervised release term of up to life, including mandatory sex offender registration. Sentencing will hinge on the statutory guidelines and other judicial considerations.
The FBI, in collaboration with Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark, is managing the prosecution under the framework of Project Safe Childhood. This initiative, operational since 2006 and led by the Department of Justice, focuses on combating child exploitation through coordinated federal, state, and local efforts.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
