ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Leonard Ortiz, Jr., 20, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the New York State Police executed a search warrant at Ortiz’s residence after receiving a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Ortiz traded child pornography on a social media application with other users. Multiple digital devices were seized and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for forensic analysis. The review uncovered at least 625 images and 117 videos of child pornography on Ortiz’s cell phone, some of which depicted the rape of prepubescent children. Investigators also executed search warrants on Ortiz’s social media accounts and discovered additional child pornography that he distributed to and received from others. In addition, investigators found multiple message threads during which Ortiz and other users openly discussed child pornography and the sexual abuse of children.
Ortiz made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and was released on conditions, including no contact with minors, unsupervised use of computers and GPS location monitoring.
The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of major Brian Ratajczak and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of 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. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys