Palmyra Man Arrested On Multiple Child Pornography Charges

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

ROCHESTER, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that David Gfeller, 34, of Palmyra, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production, distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, lifetime supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on February 12, 2019, Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations in Buffalo received information from an international law enforcement network that child pornography had been recovered by authorities in various countries, including Germany, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and France, depicting a prepubescent minor who was possibly located in Western New York. 

With assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, HSI Agents used data associated with the images to locate the residence in which the images were produced.  On March 1, 2019, Agents executed a search warrant at the residence in Palmyra, where they located the victim and arrested Gfeller for his role in producing the child pornography.   
The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan W. Feldman and is being held pending the outcome of a detention hearing, which is scheduled for March 5, 2019. 

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, with assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the New York State Police. 

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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