Kenneth Martin, a 69-year-old resident of Salina, New York, has been indicted on charges of possessing child pornography. The announcement was made by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The indictment alleges that Martin knowingly possessed an electronic device containing numerous graphic images and video files depicting children being sexually abused. This charge follows Martin's 2020 conviction in Onondaga County Court for Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child. It is important to note that the charge is merely an accusation, and Martin is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
If convicted, Martin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Additionally, he could be fined up to $250,000 and face supervised release ranging from at least five years to life, along with mandatory sex offender registration. Sentencing will be determined by a judge based on the relevant statute, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The FBI is leading the investigation with support from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case under Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is an initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. It involves collaboration between U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals exploiting children via the Internet while also identifying and rescuing victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
