Syracuse Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Gilbert Gonyea, 60, of Syracuse, New York, was sentenced today to serve 72 months in prison for receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and James C. Spero, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

As part of his guilty plea, Gonyea admitted that he was in receipt of over fifteen hundred (1,500) images and approximately nine (9) videos depicting child pornography. On November 5, 2014, investigators searched Gonyea’s residence and recovered numerous DVDs and CDs on which Gonyea stored child pornography and had labeled “Downloads” with corresponding dates or years for when such images had been received from the internet.

Chief United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also imposed a life term of supervised release, which will begin after Gonyea is released from prison, and ordered payment of a $100 special assessment. As a result of his conviction, Gonyea will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher and Assistant United States Attorney Sahar L. Amandolare.

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.