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Press Release
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MATTHEW VADO was sentenced in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, March 9, to 30 years in prison for production, receipt, and possession of child pornography. VADO pled guilty to eight counts of producing child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography on October 15, 2015, before United States District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who imposed VADO’s sentence.
According to the Complaint, the Indictment, and other statements made in open court, between June 2013 and June 2014, VADO engaged in chats over the Internet with multiple minor children between the ages of 9 and 15. In those chats, VADO induced eight children to send sexually explicit images of themselves to VADO over the internet, and among other things, sought to persuade one child to engage in a sexual act with a dog. VADO used “Kik Messenger,” a mobile communication application, to contact at least one child, and also used the application to induce the production of, and to receive, sexually explicit images and videos of the child as well as to send pornographic images of himself to the child. VADO employed a username on Kik Messenger that was not his real name.
VADO, 33, of Manhattan, was sentenced to 30 years in prison and supervised release for life.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The FBI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any related suspicious activity by calling them at (212) 384 -1000. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or www.cybertipline.com.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Max Nicholas is in charge of the prosecution.