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Press Release

Niagara Falls Man Pleads Guilty To Child Pornography Charge

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York

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 Daniel Krull, 44, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty, before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, to distribution of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law for possessing a sexual performance by a child. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and maximum of 40 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that the between November 6, 2015, and November 8, 2015, the defendant, using the Facebook profile “Danny Blaze,” distributed 11 images of child pornography to other individuals via a private group on Facebook. As a result, Facebook shut down the private group used by Krull and submitted a CyberTipline report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on February 28, 2016.

On August 23, 2016, the defendant’s cellular telephone was seized by the Niagara County Probation Department. A forensic examination revealed approximately 2,026 images and 20 videos of child pornography depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors or minors less than 12 years of age and depictions of violence. Krull also had sexual contact with a 10-year old girl on approximately five occasions.

In March 2007, the defendant was convicted in state court of possessing a sexual performance by a child less than 16 years of age.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the direction of Adam S. Cohen, Special Agent-In-Charge, and Probation Officers of the Niagara County Probation Department.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 23, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.

Updated December 16, 2016