ALBANY, NY – Drew Caswell, a 26-year-old resident of Cairo, New York, has been sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for the distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, along with Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the FBI, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James.
Caswell’s conviction stems from his admission during a guilty plea where he acknowledged using a file-hosting service to download child pornography, which he subsequently distributed by posting on a social media platform. The materials involved in the case included nearly 300 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of toddlers and infants, found on his cell phone on August 7, 2023.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci imposed the sentence, which also includes a 20-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. Upon his release, Caswell will be required to register as a sex offender.
The investigation leading to Caswell’s arrest was conducted by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, a collaborative effort involving various law enforcement entities, including Troop F of the New York State Police and its Computer Crimes Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.
Project Safe Childhood aims to enhance the effectiveness of federal, state, and local efforts in combating child exploitation and abuse on the internet. It focuses on locating and apprehending offenders and rescuing victims. More details about this initiative can be found at justice.gov/psc.