Tonawanda Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charge

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Szczepanik, 38, of Tonawanda, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that in December 2021, Szczepanik’s IP address was identified on a file sharing site where files of child pornography were being shared. In February 2022, investigators executed a warrant at his residence and seized electronic devices, which contained images and videos of child pornography. The items included a desktop and the hard drives located on the device, where more than 600 images and videos of child pornography were discovered. Some of the images included prepubescent minors and depictions of violence against children.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2023, before Judge Arcara.

# # # #