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Buffalo Man Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Child Pornography
BUFFALO, N.Y. – In a shocking turn of events, David Rubel, a 40-year-old man from Tonawanda, New York, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, a crime that carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to court documents, in August 2020, a parent filed a report with the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, alleging that Rubel had been texting his 16-year-old daughter and that some of the texts he observed were sexual in nature.
The parent observed inappropriate images on his daughter’s cell phone within a text thread between the Victim and Rubel. With the consent of the Victim’s father, an investigator searched the cell phone and observed the text messages, some of which included sexual images. Investigators also searched Rubel’s cell phone and recovered sexual images, including two videos, that were also found on the Victim’s cell phone, within the string of text messages between Rubel and the Victim.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
Rubel’s sentencing is scheduled for November 1, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that the investigation was a result of a parent’s diligent efforts to protect their child from harm.
For more information, contact Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817 or (716) 551-3051.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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