Tonawanda Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing 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 Randy Rance, 56, of Tonawanda, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who is handling the case, stated that in December 2016, the defendant distributed child pornography to an undercover investigator. In January 2017, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department seized the Rance’s computer. Forensic examination determined that the defendant was in possession of hundreds of thousands of images of child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent children less than 12 years old.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Town of Tonawanda Police Department under the direction of Chief Jerome Uschold, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 17, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.