U.S. Department
of Justice
Two Arrested For Child Sexual Exploitation
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jason Kopp,40, of Liverpool, New York and Emily Oberst, 23, of Syracuse, New York were arrested yesterday and charged with sexual exploitation of a child by making pornographic images and distribution of child pornography involving a 16 month old infant, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.
As alleged in the criminal complaint filed today, both defendants were arrested by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") following the execution of search warrants and the seizure of evidence from their residences in Syracuse and Liverpool last night and early this morning.
The charges filed against Kopp and Oberst for sexual exploitation of a child by making pornographic images carry a minimum sentence of fifteen years and a maximum sentence of thirty years imprisonment. The charges for distribution of child pornography carry a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment. Each charge provides for a fine of up to $250,000.
Kopp and Oberst appeared today in Syracuse, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew T. Baxter and were detained without bail pending further court proceedings.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by FBI Albany Division (Syracuse Resident Agency), and the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department-Federal Bureau of Investigation ("MPD-FBI") Child Exploitation Task Force (Washington Field Office), and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.