A 65-year-old man from Plattsburgh, New York, has been handed a 6-year federal prison sentence for conspiring to receive and distribute child pornography as well as possessing child pornography. Richard Hockersmith, the man convicted, was sentenced by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci as announced by United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Erin Keegan.
According to details obtained from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Hockersmith had plead guilty previously and admitted to beginning to conspire with a co-defendant, Jack Kelly, in August 2022. They had, in their correspondence, planned to rapidly exchange child sexual abuse material by mailing an SD card filled with explicit images and videos back and forth.
Further investigation led by HSI with the New York State Police's assistance, brought to light that during a search of Hockersmith's residence on September 12, 2024, the SD card used in the illicit exchange was still in his possession. The agencies found that this contained the sexually explicit images and videos of children that were shared with Kelly.
For his offenses, Hockersmith will serve a 10-year term of supervised release post prison and will also be required to register as a sex offender. As stated in a report by the U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Attorney Sarcone emphasized the vigilance of law enforcement, saying, "They thought they were being sly—using the mail to trade child pornography—but it didn’t work thanks to the diligent investigative work of the agents and investigators from HSI and the New York State Police. Let this be a lesson, we will find and punish anyone who is involved in the abuse or exploitation of children."
The concerted efforts of these agencies underscore their commitment to combating the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse as part of Project Safe Childhood. This nationwide initiative aims to improve the coordination amongst federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals exploiting children, as well as to rescue victims. HSI agent Erin Keegan reaffirmed their persistent resolve and urged the public to report suspected child exploitation to HSI's tip-line.
