Wellsville man who had sex with a minor pleads guilty to distributing videos

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Jason Goodsell, 41, of Wellsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. 

Between June 2020 and December 2021, Goodsell, then approximately 35 years old, was engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor girl, who was 16 years and 17 years old. During that time, Goodsell used a cellular device to record videos while they were engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In June 2022, Goodsell distributed multiple videos of that conduct through Facebook Messenger. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Franz M. Wright and Colleen M. McCarthy are handling the prosecution of the case. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Wellsville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy O’Grady, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional Assistance was provided by the Pittsburgh Office of the FBI.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 11, 2027, before Judge Vilardo.

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