QUEENS, NY – Andre Hyman was sentenced on Monday to one to three years in prison after being found guilty of possessing child sexual abuse photos and videos on his personal computer. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz made the announcement, emphasizing the role of cryptocurrency transactions in uncovering Hyman’s illicit activities.
The 29-year-old Jamaica resident pleaded guilty last month to possessing a sexual performance by a child and was sentenced by Queens Supreme Court Justice Jerry Iannece. He is required to register as a sex offender upon release and has permanently surrendered eight electronic devices.
Hyman’s activities were discovered through an international investigation into the proliferation of online child sexual abuse materials. Investigators traced Bitcoin addresses on websites selling such material and identified Hyman through transactions made via Square, Inc. (formerly known as Block Inc.). A subsequent search of his residence resulted in the recovery of the offending material.