Cheektowaga Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Possess Child Pornography

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

BUFFALO, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Andrew Reiner, 29, of Cheektowaga, NY, pleaded guilty to attempting to possess child pornography, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that beginning in June 2016, the defendant communicated with a 15-year-old girl via cellphone applications Kik and Skout. After learning the victim’s age, Reiner texted the victim messages of a sexual nature in order to entice her into sexual activity. Through communications via the cellphone applications and text messaging, the defendant convinced the victim to sneak out of her home late at night to meet him for sexual activity on more than one occasion. Reiner also attempted to entice the victim to ask her friends to participate in sexual activity. Between June 2016 and July 2016, the defendant asked the 15-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit photographs.

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

Sentencing is scheduled for August 30, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara.