Pedro Melendez, Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, New York 2021

A Niagara Falls man was sentenced to 96 months in prison for attempting to receive child pornography.

Pedro Melendez, 28, was convicted of attempting to receive child pornography after engaging in sexually explicit communications with an 11-year-old minor victim residing in Connecticut via several email and PlayStation accounts and applications.

In July 2021, Melendez specifically asked the minor victim if she was 11 years old, which she confirmed, and he continued to engage in sexually explicit conversations. He repeatedly asked the minor victim to send him sexually explicit images of herself, while sending the minor victim naked images of himself.

Melendez also made disturbing statements to the minor victim, saying he wished he lived near her so that he could be her “teacher” and her “training partner.” He even told the minor victim to delete her messages, saying “[t]hen ya might show people then I’m a pedophile,” and “[o]nly because your [sic] young enough to be my kid.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins handled the case, which resulted in Melendez being sentenced to 96 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

The sentencing marks a significant victory in the fight against child exploitation and abuse. The FBI and law enforcement agencies will continue to work tirelessly to protect our children from predators like Melendez.