Alden Man Going To Prison On Child Pornography Charge

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Brandon Kidder, 37, of Alden, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison and 25 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that on May 24, 2019, Kidder possessed images and videos of child pornography, which were stored on his cellular telephone and other electronic storage media. Kidder obtained the images and videos by downloading them from the internet – specifically the dark web. For example, Kidder visited and downloaded images from a dark website featuring “Hurtcore” materials. The term “Hurtcore” means any image or depiction of violent child pornography. On January 28, 2020, the FBI executed a search warrant at Kidder’s residence and seized a number of devices and electronic storage media. A forensic review revealed more than 600 images and videos of child pornography, including images that portrayed prepubescent minors, or minors under the age of 12, as well as depictions of violence.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.

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