Amsterdam Resident Charged with Receiving Child Pornography

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Kristen Blair Hiltunen, age 36, of Amsterdam, New York, appeared today in federal court on a charge that she received child pornography. 

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

According to a criminal complaint, in July 2021, Hiltunen used a social media messaging application to communicate with and receive child pornography from a minor victim.  The charge in the complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If convicted, Hiltunen faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

Hiltunen appeared today before United States Magistrate Daniel J. Stewart. She will remain detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for September 13.

This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, along with investigators from the Schenectady Police Department.  The Child Exploitation Task Force is comprised of FBI Special Agents, and state and local police investigators, including from the Rotterdam and Colonie Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Williams as part of Project Safe Childhood. 

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s 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