Amherst man pleads guilty to distributing child pornography

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jesus Collins, 26, of Amherst, NY, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.

In November 2025, the FBI executed a search warrant at Collins’ residence, during which multiple electronic devices were seized, including his cellphone. A review of the cell phone recovered approximately 20 images and 55 videos depicting child pornography.  The phone also contained messaging applications such as Signal, SimpleX, Telegram, and Teleguard, which Collins used to distribute and receive child pornography. 

On Collins’ Telegram account, investigators discovered that he exchanged child pornography with other users, often offering or agreeing to “trade” child pornography in exchange for images and videos that they had. Over approximately 2,500 unique video files and approximately 600 unique images files constituting child pornography were found in Collins’ Telegram chats, some of which depicted infants and the use of restraints on minor victims. In addition, Collins used Telegram to communicate with minors. These communications included sexually explicit conversations, during which Collins solicited the minors to send him images and videos of themselves engaging in various sexual acts, many constituting child pornography. Collins also sent the minors videos of himself engaged in sexual acts. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose. The plea is the result of an investigation by the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

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