West Seneca Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

Today, Richard W. Kollmar, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Buffalo Division, announces the arrest of Timothy Bek, 25 years old, of West Seneca, New York, on June 2, 2011, charging him with violating Title 18 United States Code 2252(a) (possession of child pornography). 

Bek’s arrest followed an investigation initiated by the FBI Buffalo’s Cyber Task Force (BCTF) with representatives from the FBI, Cheektowaga Police Department, Buffalo Police Department, and Niagara County Sheriff’s Office. The BCTF worked this case jointly with the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward F. Gehen, and the Western New York Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory (WNYRCFL).

Bek is a former long term substitute teacher in the West Seneca Central School District. The WNYRCFL conducted a forensic examination of digital media seized by the BCTF, which revealed Bek had utilized a fictitious Facebook account in the name of “Sarah Grayson.” Bek used the Grayson account to entice minors, including students from his school district, to send him explicit images of themselves. As events unfolded, it appears Bek may have blackmailed the victims into sending more explicit images.

Law enforcement is reaching out to the community to solicit information that would assist in the investigation. If anyone has information regarding Bek or the fictitious Sarah Grayson Facebook account they should contact the FBI at 716-856-7800.

According to U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr., Timothy Bek is charged with possession of child pornography which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The defendant appeared in U.S. District Court yesterday and was ordered detained by Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. U.S. Attorney Hochul stated, “Our office, along with our federal, state, and local partners, take any alleged crime involving children very seriously and we will vigorously prosecute anyone who attempts to violate the law.”

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.