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Press Release

Wellsburg Man 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

ROCHESTER, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Joshua Vandegrift, 29, of Wellsburg, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography. The charge carries a minimum of 15 years in prison, a maximum penalty of 30 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, between October 2014 and January 2015, Vandegrift engaged in sexually explicit communications via social media with a number of minor females. Those communications included enticing the minors to send sexually explicit photos of themselves to the defendant. The minors included a 17 year-old, a 12 year-old and two 13 year-olds.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Christopher Moss, and the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Reuel Todd.

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.  

Updated November 2, 2016