BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Lanham, 34, of Lockport, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to production of child pornography with a prior sex offense, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 in prison and a maximum of 50 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that in December 2010, Lanham was convicted of Rape in the Third Degree, Victim Less than 17-Year-Old, Perpetrator 21 years or more, in New York State Court and is a registered sex offender. In September 2020, he took a sexually explicit photo of a minor victim on his cell phone. In October 2020, Lanham distributed the image of the minor victim in a private online message to an undercover law enforcement officer on the Kik application.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 15, 2024, before Judge Sinatra.
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