CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Joseph Perez, 23, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that in November 2020, Twitter reported that one of its users uploaded four images of child pornography to the Twitter site. Subsequent investigation traced the images to a Twitter account belonging to Perez. On November 5, 2021, investigators seized Perez’s electronic devices, including a cellular phone, which contained approximately 125 videos of child pornography. Some of the videos included children under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
At the time of his federal arrest, there was an active arrest warrant for Perez out of Potter County, Texas. As a part of his federal plea, Perez admits that he sexually abused a minor victim in the State of Texas on more than two occasions.
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski. Additional assistance was provided by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 15, 2023, before Judge Siragusa.
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