Blasdell Man Arrested, Charged With Receipt And Possession Of Child Pornography

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Robert Michalewski, 54, of Blasdell, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The charges carry mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, after receiving a tip of suspected child pornography from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Homeland Security Investigations traced the suspected child pornography to the defendant.  On May 24, 2019, investigators executed a search warrant at Michalewski's residence on South Park Avenue in Blasdell. Several items were seized, including a desktop computer, cell phone, laptop computers, external hard drives, DVD's, thumb drives, internal hard drives, VHS tapes, and literature.  An initial examination of some of the electronics recovered suspected images and videos of child pornography. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors and acts of violence.  Michalewski was previously convicted in February 2018 of Possession of a Sexual Performance by a Child in Erie County Court and sentenced to a conditional discharge, which remains pending.     

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and is being held pending a detention hearing on May 30, 2019, at 1:00 p.m.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.   

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