Oneida County Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography

Christopher Pratt, age 40, of Utica, New York, was sentenced on September 10, 2026, to 11 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography.

First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Anthony Patrone, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.

As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Pratt admitted that after sustaining a New York State conviction related to child pornography, Pratt possessed numerous images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone, on August 12, 2025. Pratt also admitted that between October of 2023 and January of 2025, he uploaded and distributed child pornography using an online social media application. 

In addition to the term of imprisonment imposed, United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi also imposed a 15-year term of supervised release that will begin after Pratt is released from prison. Pratt was also ordered to pay $27,000 in restitution to the victims of his offense.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated, “I commend our law enforcement partners for their steadfast commitment to protecting children and making sure individuals like the defendant do not remain free in our communities, where they can harm more kids. With the defendant’s disturbing history of child pornography-related offenses, this federal prison term is a just and appropriate punishment.”

“This sentence reflects the gravity of Christopher Pratt’s conduct, which included possessing, uploading, and distributing child sexual abuse material after a prior child pornography-related conviction,” said HSI Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone. “Every file traded online represents a real child victim, and the distribution of this material expands the harm, fuels further exploitation, and undermines the safety of our communities. HSI Syracuse remains unwavering in its commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who exploit children and to seek justice for victims.”

HSI investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Carbone and Adrian LaRochelle are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. 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.