Greg Gauthier, Child Pornography Distribution, New York 2021

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – In a disturbing case of child exploitation, 55-year-old Greg Gauthier of Oneida, New York, has pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing child pornography. This heinous crime has left the community reeling, and law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to bring such offenders to justice.

Gauthier’s guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon, Nicholas Boshears, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the FBI, and Acting New York State Police Superintendent Kevin Bruen.

As part of his guilty plea, Gauthier admitted to using a social media messaging application to distribute images of child pornography over the internet. He also confessed to possessing child pornography on his cellular telephone.

A forensic review of Gauthier’s cellular telephone revealed that it contained 71 image files and 98 video files depicting child pornography. This is a staggering number, and it highlights the severity of this crime.

Gauthier’s case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child exploitation. The program is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). It aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

Gauthier’s sentencing is set for October 5, 2021. He faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 60 years in prison. Additionally, he will be subject to a term of supervised release ranging from five years to life.

This case highlights the importance of vigilance and cooperation in combating child exploitation. The community must work together to prevent such crimes and support victims. As a society, we owe it to ourselves and future generations to ensure that those responsible for such heinous crimes are brought to justice.

The FBI Syracuse Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents and Investigators of the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU), investigated this case with assistance from the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown.

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