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Cassadaga man pleads guilty to child pornography charge

BUFFALO — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced Friday that Daniel Villafane-Lozada, 23, of Cassadaga, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy V. Murray, who is handling the case, stated that on April 19, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and seized a digital memory card which contained 30 videos and 22 images of child pornography. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors or minors under 12 years old, the sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence.

As part of his plea, Villafane-Lozada admitted that between 2014 and 2017, he engaged in sexual contact with two minor victims under the age of 18 years old.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Edward Kennedy.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 1, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

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