Former Air Force Reservist Pleads Guilty To Distribution Of Child Pornography

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
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BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Steven Fine, 30, of Orchard Park, NY, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Lamarque, who is handling the case, stated that the investigation began when the defendant, a former United States Air Force Reservist, distributed videos containing child pornography to an undercover agent. On September 12, 2014, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s mother’s house in West Seneca, NY and recovered electronics being used by Fine. A subsequent forensic examination determined that several of the electronics contained images and videos of child pornography, including a video that the defendant had produced of himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a minor under the age of 16.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero, and the Town of West Seneca Police Department under the direction of Chief Daniel Denz.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 15, 2016 before Judge Arcara.