Delaware County Man and Schoharie County Woman Arrested on Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Joshua Carey, age 37, of Stamford, New York, and Ariel Machia, age 27, of Middleburgh, New York, were arrested on February 22 and charged with sexual exploitation of a 1-year-old, whom they used to produce child pornography.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Carey and Machia appeared on February 23 before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, and were detained pending further proceedings.

The charges in the complaint are merely accusations.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

If convicted, Carey faces at least 25 years and up to 50 years in prison, post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and a maximum $250,000 fine.  Machia faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, post-imprisonment release of at least 5 years and up to life, and a maximum $250,000 fine.  Sentences are imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the United States Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. 

This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, with the assistance of the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph A. Giovannetti.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood.  Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ 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.