Joseph Lombardo, 25, of Lancaster, New York, pleaded guilty to possession and receipt of child pornography, admitting to a predatory online campaign that exploited at least three minors over several years. The charges, brought by federal prosecutors, carry a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of 50 years behind bars, and a $250,000 fine.
Lombardo appeared before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, where he entered his plea to both counts. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, the case began unfolding in May 2014 when a 15-year-old female—identified as Victim 1—reported being extorted for nude images since she was 12. The predator, posing as ‘Chris Richardson’ on the social media app Kik, threatened to release her photos unless she sent more. She eventually sent over 150 explicit images under duress.
After a year-long break from her phone, Victim 1 was re-targeted in April 2014. This time, a new alias—’Dan’—emerged, claiming he could help her fend off ‘Richardson.’ Instead, ‘Dan’ escalated the abuse, demanding nude photos of his own. Victim 1 complied and later met ‘Dan’ in person, engaging in multiple sexual encounters. He asked to record one of the acts for profit, though she is unsure if it was filmed. She told him she was underage.
On May 9, 2014, Victim 1 identified Joseph Lombardo in a police photo array as the man she knew as ‘Dan.’ That same day, investigators executed a search warrant at his Lancaster residence, seizing a laptop that revealed further horrors. Forensic analysis uncovered explicit images of a 13-year-old girl—Victim 2—who said she met Lombardo on meetme.com, where he again used the ‘Chris Richardson’ alias to groom her.
A third victim, a 16-year-old female—Victim 3—also reported meeting Lombardo on meetme.com. She confirmed sending 30 to 40 nude photos and engaging in sexual contact with him. Her testimony, along with digital evidence, tied the defendant to a pattern of calculated deception, using fake identities to manipulate and exploit vulnerable minors across multiple platforms.
The investigation was led by the FBI under Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen, with assistance from the Lancaster Police Department, Chief Gerald Gill, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, Chief David Zack. Sentencing is scheduled for March 7, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Vilardo. Federal prosecutors are pushing for the maximum penalty, calling Lombardo’s actions a sustained violation of innocence and trust.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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