Buffalo man pleads guilty to production of child pornography

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Regan, 41, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that in August 2020, Regan took a sexually explicit photo of Minor Victim 1 using his cellular telephone. Also in August 2020, during communications over the social media application TextNow, Regan directed Minor Victim 2 to send him sexually explicit images of herself. Regan then met Minor Victim 2 to engage in sexual contact. After the sexual contact, Regan instructed Minor Victim 2 not to tell anyone or he would come to her house. Minor Victim 2 felt threatened by Regan’s statement.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 25, 2024, before Judge Sinatra.

# # # #