Utica local Win Naing, 20, was brought before a federal court facing grave charges of receiving and possessing child pornography, a situation brought to light by both a cloud storage service and the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The cloud service, vigilantly guarding its digital gates, initially reported the offending content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2023, which led to an investigation tracing back to Naing.
The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with FBI Special Agents, linked the internet protocol address to Naing. Upon examining his cellphone, investigators discovered numerous illicit images and videos. As reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, these findings were presented in federal court and revealed a disturbing use of a social networking application to download the material.
Naing faces serious consequences if convicted, including a potential federal prison sentence of 5 to 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, mandatory supervised release ranging from 5 years to life, and sex offender registration after release. During his initial court appearance in Syracuse, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks ordered that he be held in custody pending further proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “Collecting child pornography is not a victimless crime and the defendant in this case will now suffer the grave consequences of his despicable actions.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli added that the agency remains committed to “relentlessly investigating these appalling predators and ensuring justice is delivered to the victims,” according to statements provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Naing remains legally presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, as the indictment currently designates him as the accused. The investigation is ongoing and involves cooperation between the FBI and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is leading the prosecution. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information, visit the official Project Safe Childhood website.
