Rochester Man Pleads Guilty To Possession 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 Jason Schwartz, 48, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to possession of child pornography, including prepubescent images. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that in October 2018, an undercover law enforcement officer connected with an IP address over a Peer-to-Peer Network. The IP address shared two videos containing child pornography with the undercover officer. Subsequent investigation located the residence associated with that IP address. On December 11, 2018, the owner, a friend of Schwartz, advised investigators that the defendant was using his computer equipment to “download movies.”  Investigators then searched the computer used by Schwartz and found approximately 475 images containing child pornography. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors and violence.

On September 23, 2016, Schwartz pleaded in state court to Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child and is a registered sex offender. 

The plea is the result of an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 16, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. before Chief Judge Geraci.

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