Brian Belanger, Child Exploitation, New York 2014

ALBANY, NEW YORK – A Massachusetts man has been arrested and charged with coercing a 10-year-old Albany County child to produce sexually explicit videos of himself. Brian Belanger, 21, of Worcester, Massachusetts, allegedly used the nickname ‘zombieshadow’ to meet the child online through Playstation 3.

According to a criminal complaint, Belanger directed the child to provide sexually explicit videos of himself, which the child then emailed to Belanger over the course of approximately three months. The investigation was sparked by the child’s father, who discovered the emails and videos on the child’s iPad on January 25, 2014.

The investigation, which involved the Colonie New York Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Division, the New York State Police, the Worcester Massachusetts Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, culminated in Belanger’s arrest at his Worcester, Massachusetts residence.

Belanger made his initial appearance in United States District Court in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Hon. Randolph F. Treece and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for 2PM, Monday, February 10, 2014. If convicted, Belanger faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years imprisonment, with a maximum penalty of 30 years, potential fines of up to $250,000, and a required term of supervised release of at least 5 years, and up to life. A conviction would also require Belanger to register as a sex offender.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Fletcher, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Northern District of New York. Members of the community in the Worcester, Massachusetts area who have concerns or information regarding this case should call (508)-792-0214. Those in the Albany, New York area with information or concerns should call either (518) 431-0247, or 1-(888) 539-4535.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

The charges are merely accusations, and Belanger is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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