Tonawanda Man Arrested, Charged With Possession And Distribution Of Child Pornography

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

BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Dakar Young, 23, of Tonawanda, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession and distribution of child pornography. The charges carry a minimum penalty 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 defendant was arrested on December 13, 2017, following the execution of a search warrant at his residence. According to the criminal complaint, in May 2017, Young uploaded eight image files of child pornography onto a social networking site. Images of child pornography were also found on Young’s cell phone. 

The defendant made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr.  Young was ordered detained pending trial.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police ICAC Task Force, under the direction of Major Edward Kennedy, and Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen.

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.