Richard Hockersmith, Child Pornography Distribution, New York 2025

A 65-year-old Clinton County man has been convicted of conspiring to spread child pornography.

Richard Hockersmith of Plattsburgh, New York, pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive and distribute child pornography and possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Hockersmith admitted that in August 2022, he began conspiring with his co-defendant, Jack Kelly, about exchanging child pornography. The two men decided to exchange the illicit material by mailing an SD card containing the child pornography back and forth, which each of them did.

During a search of Hockersmith’s residence on September 12, 2024, he still possessed the SD card he and his co-defendant used to receive and distribute child pornography via the U.S. mail, which still contained images and videos of child pornography.

At sentencing, which is currently scheduled for April 9, 2025, in Albany, New York before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci, Hockersmith faces a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years and up to 20 years, a supervised release term of between 5 years and life, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Hockersmith will also be required to pay restitution to the victims of his offenses and will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

The case is being investigated by HSI with assistance from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

Hockersmith’s crimes fall under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative to combat child exploitation. The program aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting our children from exploitation and abuse. The guilty plea of Richard Hockersmith is a significant step towards justice for the victims of his crimes.

Richard Hockersmith’s conviction is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in combating child exploitation.

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