CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Melanie Thompson, 47, of Cattaraugus, NY, who was convicted of distribution of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey T. Fiut, who handled the case, stated that between January 9, 2017, and March 6, 2020, the defendant took sexually explicit photographs of Minor Victim 1in furtherance of her plan to impersonate Victim 1. Thereafter, Thompson, while impersonating Victim 1, engaged in conversations of a sexual nature with two minor male victims (Victims 2 and 3) and one adult. During those conversations, the defendant solicited a sexually explicit picture from Victim 2; sent, via social media, the sexually explicit photograph she had taken of Victim 1 to Victim 3, receiving two sexually explicit images in return from Victim 3; and while impersonating Victim 1 and engaging in sexual conversations with an adult male over social media, sent such male the sexually explicit photographs she had taken of Victim 1.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Timothy S. Whitcomb.
# # # #
A message from US Attorney James P. Kennedy for Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Visit the Federal government’s website to help you be safe, secure and responsible online.
https://www.onguardonline.gov/
CASE INFORMATION 
Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.
Read about our LECC Program
138 Delaware Ave. – Buffalo, NY 14202