Buffalo Man Sentenced For Possession Of Child Pornography

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

BUFFALO, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Joshua Butler, 43, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and 20 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The defendant must also pay $3,000 in restitution to victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen, Jr., who handled the case, stated that on April 13, 2016, Butler was convicted in state court of one count of promoting a sexual performance by a child, and subsequently sentenced to 10 years probation. On July 19, 2016, an Erie County Probation Officer searched Butler’s residence and recovered two cellular phones with internet capabilities.  As a condition of his probation, Butler was prohibited from possessing such devices. A forensic examination determined that one phone contained over 300 images of child pornography, some of which depicted children under the age of 12, as well as images of violence.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zack.