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Child Pornography Charges Filed Against Lockport Duo
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Two Niagara County men have been indicted on federal charges related to the distribution and production of child pornography, U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced Wednesday.
Timothy Laubacker, 25, of Lockport, and Travis Guerriera, 26, of Olcott, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and receive child pornography, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and cyberstalking, according to the indictment.
The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years and a $250,000 fine. Laubacker also faces charges of production of child pornography and attempted production of child pornography, which carry a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years and a $250,000 fine.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, the investigation began in September 2015, when a 14-year-old girl reported receiving unsolicited communications from Laubacker on Facebook. The girl, identified as Victim 1, claimed that Laubacker threatened to distribute and post images that she sent to her then-boyfriend, Travis Guerriera.
During the investigation, it was determined that Laubacker was the individual who had contacted Victim 1 on Facebook and had shared the initial images of Victim 1 with Guerriera. Laubacker then posted a link on an anonymous website containing pornographic images of Victim 1, despite not having received any images from her.
Laubacker also attempted to entice a second victim, identified as Victim 2, via Facebook to produce pornographic images in June 2015. When Victim 2 did not comply, Laubacker threatened to distribute images that he claimed to have of her. These threats continued until November 2015.
The defendants were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. Laubacker was released on bail, while Guerriera’s detention hearing is set for August 15, 2016, at 11:15 a.m.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of James Voutour.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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