BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Michael Mesko, 50, of Cheektowaga, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with enticement of a minor and production of child sexual abuse. The charges carry a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the defendant was arrested by the North Tonawanda Police Department on February 4, 2021, after it was discovered that he had been engaging in repeated sexual acts with the 17-year-old Victim. Mesko communicated with the Victim on social media applications, including Snapchat and TextNow, obtained naked images, constituting child pornography, of the Victim, and enticed the Victim into sexual contact. Investigators conducted a search of the Victim’s iPad and discovered conversations between the defendant and the Victim dating back to October 8, 2020.
Mesko will make an initial appearance this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the North Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Krantz; the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Sliwinski; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.
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.
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