Rochester, N.Y. – In a shocking turn of events, Gino A. Sava, 53, of Gates, N.Y., has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.
The charges against Sava stem from a referral made by the Enfield, Connecticut Police Department in April 2013. According to the referral, an individual in Connecticut was found to be trading and discussing images of child pornography with another individual in the Western District of New York via Yahoo! Instant Messenger.
As a result of the investigation, members of the FBI’s Cyber Task Force conducted a search warrant at Sava’s residence and seized numerous items of digital media, including computers and CDs. The images included prepubescent minors and minors being subjected to violence.
The case against Sava was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Cyber Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents, as well as members of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Patrick O’Flynn and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 4, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge David G. Larimer. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa J. Miller, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant came to the attention of law enforcement in April 2013, following a referral from the Enfield, Connecticut Police Department.
Gino Sava’s guilty plea serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of child pornography. The images included prepubescent minors and minors being subjected to violence, highlighting the gravity of the situation. As the nation continues to grapple with the issue of child sex abuse, Sava’s case serves as a warning to those who would engage in such heinous activities.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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