Man Sentenced in Child Pornography Case

BUFFALO, NY—JOHN L. COTE, 49, of Blasdell, New York, who was convicted of possession of child pornography on January 5, 2009, was sentenced to a 97-month term of prison followed by a 10-year period of supervised release by United States Chief Judge Richard J. Arcara, U.S. District Court, Acting United States Attorney Kathleen M. Mehltretter of the Western District of New York announced today.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Wydysh stated that the complaint charged the defendant with distributing child pornography. On January 17, 2007, Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), operating in an undercover capacity, went on the internet and were contacted by the defendant. After a short discussion, the defendant sent child pornography to the agents. Subsequently, the defendant's computers were searched by Special Agents of the FBI and found to contain additional child pornography.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the United States Attorneys Office 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 conviction was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Laurie Bennett, Special Agent in Charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Wydysh will handle the trial of the case.