ALBANY, NY – Parker S. Sikand, 25, of Ballston Spa, New York, will spend the next eight years in federal prison after being sentenced today for his depraved crimes involving child pornography. Sikand received a 96-month sentence for distributing, receiving, and possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino, following a guilty plea entered by Sikand on November 23, 2016. According to court documents, Sikand’s offenses occurred in Troy, New York, in September and October of 2012. He actively distributed and received these horrific materials using an internet peer-to-peer file-sharing service, hoarding them on both a laptop and a separate computer hard drive. Some of the victims depicted were as young as 2 or 3 years old.
“This isn’t just about possessing images,” stated United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in a joint announcement. “This is about the exploitation of vulnerable children, and we will continue to relentlessly pursue those who inflict such harm.” Judge D’Agostino didn’t stop at prison time. Sikand will also face a 15-year term of supervised release upon his eventual release, and will be required to pay restitution to a child pornography victim whose images he possessed – the exact amount to be determined at a later hearing.
The FBI investigation uncovered a pattern of deliberate and sickening behavior. Sikand didn’t stumble upon these files; he actively sought them out, shared them, and stored them, prolonging the abuse and contributing to the suffering of the children depicted. He will also be mandated to register as a sex offender once released from prison, a permanent marker of his crimes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett skillfully prosecuted the case, building a solid case against Sikand based on the evidence collected by the FBI. This conviction is a direct result of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at dismantling online child exploitation networks and bringing perpetrators to justice. The project leverages the resources of federal, state, and local agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who prey on children online.
Project Safe Childhood isn’t just about punishment; it’s about rescue and prevention. For more information about this critical program, and to report suspected child exploitation, visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on efforts to combat this horrific crime. The fact remains: Sikand’s actions have scarred innocent lives, and his lengthy prison sentence is a small measure of accountability for his monstrous deeds.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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