Rochester Man Arrested, Charged With Production Of Child Pornography

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

ROCHESTER, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jeremy Hernandez, 30, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with producing child pornography. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received information from an electronic service provider that a user had uploaded several images of child pornography to a blog on the provider’s platform. As a result of that information, the New York State Police identified and located the source of the child pornography at an address in Rochester. 

The complaint further states that on October 24, 2019, a search warrant was executed at the residence. Hernandez was present at the time. Investigators seized several digital devices, including two cellular phones that belonged to the defendant. A forensic analysis recovered images and videos on the phones, which depicted Hernandez sexually abusing a minor under 13 years old on multiple occasions between 2017 and 2019. The child has since been identified and located. 

The defendant made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and is being held pending a detention hearing on February 13, 2020, 2:30 p.m.  

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eric Laughton; Monroe County Child Protective Services, under the direction of Director Kathy Cardilli; the Bivona Child Advocacy Center, under the direction of Executive Director Deb Rosen; and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly. 

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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