NY Resident Pleads Guilty in Child Sex Exploitation Case

ERIE, Pa. – The grim halls of federal court were abuzz with the chilling revelation that Kyle Thomas Samsel, a 35-year-old resident of Auburn, New York, has pleaded guilty to violating federal laws concerning the sexual exploitation of minors.

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In an ominous turn of events, Samsel, who now faces a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison or $250,000 fine, admitted to traveling across state lines with the intent of engaging in criminal sexual activity with a minor. The court was informed that these heinous acts took place in October 2020.

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Sitting before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter, Samsel pleaded guilty to one count of his charged crime. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 13, 2025, where justice will mete out the appropriate punishment based on the severity of the offense and any prior criminal history.

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Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is leading the charge against Samsel on behalf of the government, ensuring that this predator faces the full weight of the law. The investigation into Samsel’s despicable actions was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, City of Cleveland (Ohio) Division of Police, and Webster (New York) Police Department.

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This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat the escalating crisis of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project, led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), mobilizes federal, state, and local resources to track down predators like Samsel and rescue their victims.

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For more information about Project Safe Childhood and its efforts to protect our children from sexual exploitation, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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