Amherst Man Pleads Guilty To Possession Of Child Pornography

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Timothy Murphy, 49, of Amherst, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that on October 15, 2014, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Kings Highway residence of the defendant who worked as a technician for the Kenmore Tonawanda School District at the time. The officers recovered a computer being used by Murphy. A subsequent forensic examination determined that the computer contained approximately 123 images and one video of child pornography. Some of the images depicted children under the age of 12 years old. Some of the images also contain depictions of violence.

Murphy has been in custody since his arrest on April 28, 2015. Sentencing is scheduled for January 13, 2016 before Judge Wolford.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.