Michael Fegley Jr., a 31-year-old resident of Tampa, Florida, has pleaded guilty to charges of traveling with the intent to engage in unlawful sexual conduct and transporting 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 documents, Fegley admitted that he traveled from Florida to the Northern District of New York with the intention of engaging in illegal sexual activity with someone he believed was a 13-year-old child. He also acknowledged bringing approximately 1,000 images and videos depicting child pornography that he had obtained online.
Fegley is scheduled for sentencing on April 27, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison for the child pornography charge, as well as up to 30 years for the travel-related charge. Additional penalties include supervised release for at least five years and potentially up to life, restitution payments to victims, destruction of property used in committing the offenses, special assessments, fines, and mandatory registration as a sex offender upon release.
Sentencing will be determined by a judge who will consider federal statutes, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other relevant factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “The defendant’s admitted conduct is deeply disturbing. He not only traveled across multiple states to meet a purported child for unlawful sexual conduct, but he brought with him vile depictions of the sexual abuse of children. Let the defendant’s case be a warning to all predators: If you come into the Northern District of New York with the goal of harming a child, you will be prosecuted.”
Erin Keegan added: “This individual’s calculated decision to cross multiple state lines in pursuit of exploiting someone who he believed was a child demonstrates a disturbing level of predatory intent. HSI will stop at nothing to track down and bring to justice those who target children, regardless of where their crimes take them. HSI Albany, together with our partners, is unwavering in their resolve to shield children from harm and see that those who prey on them are held to account.”
The investigation was conducted by HSI working alongside the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case under Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is an initiative led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) that brings together federal, state, and local resources aimed at combating child sexual exploitation online and identifying victims for rescue efforts. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
