Press release
Buffalo, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Ronald Caryl, 25, of Silver Springs, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce child pornography before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on February 14, 2017, the defendant began communicating on MeetMe.com, a social networking service, with a 23-year-old woman in Nashville, Tennesee. During the conversation, the two began to discuss Caryl providing the woman with $300 to have sex with her. The woman wrote, “just $300 and u do what u want to me.” The defendant replied, “do you have a young girl who could join I’ll pay more…you into young girls”? The woman responded, “as long as they r 18 and older,” to which Caryl replied, “Ya I meant younger I’ll pay 6000.” The woman replied, “I can’t put things in her mouth she gets sick she’s disabled.” The defendant went on to say, “show me your daughter,” and then the woman allegedly sent a picture to the defendant. Caryl continued to press the woman to send naked pictures of her one-year-old daughter.
A MeetMe.com staff member identified the possible endangerment of a minor and illegal content and notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) who in turn notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen. Additional assistance was also provided by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Gregory J. Rudolph, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David J. Zack, and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James R. Voutour.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 1, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.