Defendant Who Distributed Child Pornography Pleads Guilty

Albany Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Approximately 100 Images of Child Pornography

ALBANY—United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and Clifford C. Holly, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Division, announced that Leonard M. Gaines, age 55, of Albany, New York, pled guilty today in United States District Court in Albany before District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino to one count of distributing child pornography.

Pursuant to a written plea agreement, Gaines admitted that on December 19, 2011, while using a file sharing program, he distributed, via the Internet, multiple still images containing child pornography. Gaines also admitted that following the March 2, 2012 execution of a federal search warrant at his Albany residence, investigators recovered additional electronic still images and videos of child pornography.

Sentencing was scheduled by Judge D’Agostino for September 6, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Albany, New York. Gaines faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years’ imprisonment, up to a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment. Gaines was released pending his sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.