Grand Jury Indicts Jamestown Man On Multiple Child Pornography Charges Including Enticement And Production

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment charging Richard Lafrance, 34, of Jamestown, NY, with enticement, production of child pornography, and committing certain crimes while required to register as a sex offender. The charges carry a minimum sentence of 45 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, in April 2019, the defendant met and began communicating via email and text message with a 14-year-old Minor Victim (MV1). The communications between Lafrance and MV1 were sexually explicit and included the defendant requesting that MV1 send him naked pictures. In addition, Lafrance met up with MV1 on at least two occasions to engage in sexual intercourse.

In 2006, the defendant was convicted in Oregon of two counts of second degree rape and one count of second degree sexual abuse, and as a result, he is a registered Level III sex offender.
The defendant was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was detained.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, and the Chautauqua County Sherriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James B. Quattrone.

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.  

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