CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Robert Calkins, Jr., 37, of Salamanca, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production, receipt, and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, lifetime supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in April 2020, the New York State Police (NYSP) began an investigation after receiving multiple reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) referencing Calkins as the subject of activity and material involving suspected child pornography. In September 2020, NYSP investigators executed a search warrant at Calkins’ E. Jefferson Street residence in Salamanca, seizing four cell phones and an SD card. A forensic analysis recovered thousands of images and videos of suspected child pornography on the phones and SD card. Some of the images depict a minor female whom Calkins had contact with. Also recovered were sexually explicit Facebook Messenger conversations between Calkins and what is believed to be a 16-year-old minor female.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.
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.
# # # #