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Press Release

Jury Convicts Irondequoit Man of Production of Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York
 

    ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Michael D. Schluter, 45, formerly of Irondequoit, N.Y., was convicted after a jury trial of production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in  illegal sexual activity. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a $250,000 fine.

“Thanks to the jury’s verdict in this case, this defendant will now serve a lengthy sentence for his despicable actions,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “The defendant, who sought to take away the innocence of a child, instead succeeded only in losing his own freedom – if not forever, then certainly for a very long period of time.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany H. Lee and Craig R. Gestring, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that in January 2009, a minor reported that she had been sexually abused by the defendant. The Government’s trial evidence established that in July 2008 Schluter took photographs of the minor in sexually explicit poses.  Further, the Government proved that in 2007, the defendant transported the minor to Massachusetts and Vermont in 2007 for the purpose of raping the minor.

The conviction is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero and the Irondequoit Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard V. Tantalo.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2014, at 3:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Updated November 24, 2014