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Press Release

Registered Sex Offender Arrested And Charged With Production Of Child Pornography

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. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Juan Quinones-Rivera, 39, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that on April 21, 2021, New York State Parole contacted the FBI after a parole officer, while conducting a search of defendant’s room, discovered that he had a cell phone, which was a violation of his parole. During a cursory search of the device, the parole officer located Snapchat chats and text messages between Quinones-Rivera and a female (Victim). A subsequent search of the phone recovered numerous images and videos of suspected child pornography. In addition, investigators recovered sexually explicit text conversations between the defendant and Victim, during which Quinones-Rivera requested and received approximately 50 videos and photos from the Victim. In May 2021, the FBI contacted the Greene County, Virginia Sheriff's Office for assistance in identifying the Victim. After doing so, investigators searched the Victim’s cell phone and located an image that was also found on the defendant’s phone. 

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci; the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger; and the Greene County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Steven Smith.

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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Updated July 30, 2021

Topic
Project Safe Childhood