A Potsdam man, Richard LaPage, age 51, has pleaded guilty to charges of distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
According to court records, LaPage admitted that between December 2023 and October 2024 he used smartphone social networking applications to send and receive child pornography files with other users. Investigators discovered more than 150 images and videos depicting child pornography on four electronic devices belonging to LaPage. He has a previous conviction from April 25, 2010, for attempted criminal sexual act in the first degree under New York State law, which involves attempting sexual contact with a child under 13 years old.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “The defendant, already a registered sex offender, again engaged in disgusting criminal conduct that revictimized the children whose abuse was depicted in the images he distributed, received, and possessed. Sex offenders who reoffend face particularly lengthy prison terms under federal law, and we will do everything in our power to make sure they serve the lengthiest terms possible so that our children are safe from these sick, twisted people.”
Erin Keegan added: “Richard LaPage is a repeat child predator with a criminal history of targeting young children for his own abhorrent desires. Today and always, HSI Massena, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and our local partners refuse to allow our communities to become safe havens for sex offenders intent on continuing their exploitation of minors.”
Sentencing is scheduled for January 9, 2026 before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. Due to his prior conviction, LaPage faces mandatory minimum sentences: at least 15 years in prison for distribution and receipt charges and at least 10 years for possession charges; maximum sentences include up to 40 years for distribution and receipt charges and up to 20 years for possession charges; fines could reach $250,000; supervised release could range from five years up to life. He will also be required to pay restitution to victims, surrender property used in committing these offenses, and register again as a sex offender.
The investigation was conducted by HSI alongside the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit (CCU), with assistance from the Potsdam Police Department and St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis is prosecuting.
Project Safe Childhood is an initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation online by coordinating efforts among federal prosecutors’ offices such as https://www.justice.gov/psc.
