Buffalo Photographer Facing Additional Charge Of Production 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 the criminal complaint against Delshawn K. Trueheart, 43, of Buffalo, NY, has been amended to include an additional charge of production of child pornography. The defendant was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on March 20, 2019, with possession of child pornography. Production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who is handling the case, stated that according to the amended complaint, on March 26, 2019, investigators reviewed an SD card seized from Trueheart’s residence during the execution of a federal search warrant.  The SD card contained a video showing minor victim 1 naked in the defendant’s East Delavan Avenue photography studio while Trueheart took video of her.

Investigators also reviewed a thumb drive, which was seized at the photography studio during the execution of a federal search warrant. The thumb drive also contained a video which showed minor victim 1 and minor victim 2 removing their clothing and engaging in a sexual act. The video also contained other incidents of sexual activity involving the minor victims.

In March 2019, minor victim 1 reported to the Buffalo Police Department that Trueheart had a sexual relationship with her while she was between 15 and 17 years of age. Minor victim 1 stated that she had sexual relations with him at both his residence and his photography studio. The victim also reported that Trueheart took nude images of her and recorded them engaged in sexual intercourse.

A detention hearing is scheduled for March 28, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy.

The amended criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, and the Buffalo Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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