Albany Man Jailed for Child Porn

ALBANY, NEW YORK – An Albany man has been sentenced to nearly eight years in prison for his role in a child pornography ring.

Taykwun Smoaks, 32, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for receipt of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. As part of his prior guilty plea, Smoaks admitted to receiving and possessing images and videos of child pornography on his computer and external hard drive from February to March 2023.

During this period, Smoaks downloaded more than 600 videos and 22,000 still images, including images of prepubescent minors, images that involved sadistic and masochistic conduct, and images involving the sexual abuse of toddlers and infants.

U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also ordered Smoaks to serve a 15-year term of post-incarceration supervised release; to pay restitution of $3,000 to each of 15 victims for a total amount of $45,000 in restitution; and to forfeit the electronic devices used to commit the offense.

Smoaks will also be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the New York State Police, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping prosecuting the case.

Launched in May 2006, Project Safe Childhood is a partnership between federal, state and local resources to combat child exploitation and abuse.

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced the sentencing, which was the result of a guilty plea entered by Smoaks in connection with the receipt of child pornography.

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