Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Possession Of Child Pornography

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Michael V. Secchiaroli, 32, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor.  The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on March 29, 2016, the defendant possessed images of child pornography which were obtained over the internet and stored on a laptop computer. On December 28, 2015, a Special Agent with the FBI, acting in an undercover capacity, logged onto a peer-to-peer file-sharing program and downloaded seven images of child pornography from an individual sharing those images from particular IP address. Further investigation revealed that the IP address was associated with the Secchiaroli’s residence. The defendant admitted that he had been using publicly available peer-to-peer software to download, possess, and view child pornography. Secchiaroli’s electronic devices were found to contain 31 images of child pornography, some of which depicted pre-pubescent children and violence.

The plea is the result of an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, at the direction of Adam S. Cohen, Special Agent-in-Charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 1, 2018, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.