Michael Kimball, 28, of Plattsburgh, New York, stood before a federal judge today and admitted to trading, transporting, and hoarding child pornography across the internet — a digital trail of depravity that law enforcement says spanned months of deliberate criminal activity.
The guilty plea, entered in federal court in Albany, marks the end of an investigation led by the FBI and New York State Police. Kimball confessed to downloading explicit images of children and sharing them with others online, storing the material on electronic devices investigators later seized.
U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and FBI Albany Special Agent in Charge Andrew W. Vale announced the plea, emphasizing that the distribution of child sexual abuse material is not a victimless crime — it fuels ongoing exploitation and re-victimizes children every time an image is viewed or shared.
Kimball now faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and up to 20 years in federal prison. Senior U.S. District Judge Norman A. Mordue ordered him held without bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for February 21, 2017, in Syracuse, New York.
Upon any future release, Kimball will be subjected to supervised release for a minimum of 5 years — and potentially for the rest of his life. He will also be required to register as a sex offender, joining a national database that tracks those convicted of crimes against children.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Kopita, who is working with federal and state investigators to ensure Kimball is held accountable under the full weight of the law. The FBI continues to urge the public to report suspected online exploitation through its tip line and partner organizations.
Related Federal Cases
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- Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge · Texas
- Wellsburg Man Charged in Child Pornography Production · New York
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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