Federal Jury Convicts Ovid Man Of Child Pornography Charges

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

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal jury has convicted Christopher Eberhardt, 34, of Ovid, NY, of distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Rossi and Craig Gestring, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that Eberhardt was part of a network of more than 70 individuals engaged in the trade of child pornography. The network was first discovered by Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) working in Hartford, Connecticut. Agents from the Buffalo, New York Field Office of HSI uncovered a digital trail, which led to the arrest the defendant.  In total, Eberhardt was found to be in possession of more than 2,000 images and 132 videos of child pornography. He was also found to have distributed child pornography to other individuals.  

The trial verdict is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Richard Allen. 

Sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2017, at 2:15 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa, who presided over the trial of the case.