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Press Release

Orange County Man Sentenced In White Plains Federal Court To 17 ½ Years In Prison On Charges Stemming From His Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor And His Possession Of Child Pornography

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

Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that EDWARD DIAZ was sentenced in White Plains federal court to 210 months in prison on one count stemming from his sexual exploitation of a minor, related child pornography offenses, and attempts to hinder the federal investigation concerning his criminal conduct. DIAZ, 60, of Campbell Hall, New York, pled guilty on March 9, 2017, before United States District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti, who also imposed today’s sentence.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Edward Diaz sexually abused a child, and then kept digital images depicting that abuse. For his predatory conduct, Diaz received the significant prison term his crime deserves.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint, the Indictment filed against DIAZ, and statements made in court filings and proceedings in open court:

On or about April 1, 2016, DIAZ used his personal email account to send himself an email attaching three images depicting child pornography. DIAZ’s internet service provider flagged the email as potentially containing child pornography and provided it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”). A NCMEC representative reviewed the email and at least one of the attachments, indicated the presence of child pornography, and notified the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”).

On the morning of June 13, 2016, USPIS agents interviewed DIAZ at his home. During the interview, the agents observed a laptop located in DIAZ’s bedroom. DIAZ denied using the laptop to view child pornography. The USPIS agents left DIAZ’s residence and returned later that day with a search warrant. Upon their return, the agents learned that DIAZ had left the residence and taken the laptop with him. USPIS agents contacted DIAZ and convinced him to return. When asked about the laptop, however, DIAZ initially stated that he did not own a laptop and finally stated that he took the laptop to a repair shop, which he declined to identify. The laptop has not been recovered.

During the subsequent search of DIAZ’s residence, USPIS agents recovered a Secure Digital (“SD”) card. The SD card, which was provided to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) for forensic analysis, revealed the existence of five previously deleted images that appeared to contain child pornography. Specifically, the images depicted, among other things, a pre-pubescent girl engaged in a sex act with DIAZ.

In addition to the prison term, DIAZ was sentenced to supervised release for life.

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Mr. Kim praised the extraordinary investigative work of the Postal Inspection Service and the FBI.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Clore is in charge of the prosecution.

Updated September 8, 2017

Topic
Project Safe Childhood
Press Release Number: 17-289