Irondequoit Man Sentenced For Possessing And Distributing Child Pornography, Making False Statements

CONTACT:     Barbara Burns              
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Robert Cavigliano, 56, of Irondequoit, N.Y., who was convicted following a jury trial of distributing child pornography, possessing child pornography and making a false statement to federal agents, was sentenced to 27 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Miller, Craig R. Gestring and Tiffany H. Lee, who handled the case, stated that in October and November 2011, undercover agents in both Rochester, N.Y. and Montana received child pornography from the defendant, through a peer-to-peer software program. Agents executed a search warrant at Cavigliano’s residence in January 2012, at which time they located items of digital media, including a laptop computer. That computer was later discovered to contain images and videos of child pornography. The defendant also made a false statement to federal agents when he stated to members of the FBI that he did not own or possess any laptop computers, during an interview with agents prior to the execution of the warrant.

In sentencing the defendant, Judge Geraci stated that the images distributed by the defendant were terrible and very disturbing. The judge added that each photo is a child who was raped and victimized and those photos were shared with the world and are out there forever because of Cavigliano’s actions. Judge Geraci also stated that the defendant’s conduct destroys children, families, and communities and calls for the most severe sentence. The judge also noted that Cavigliano accepted no responsibility for his actions and is a risk to society.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.  In February 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cyber Task Force, consisting of Special Agents of the FBI, deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn, and investigators with the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli. Assistance was also provided by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department in Montana, under the direction of Roger Thompson.