A Washington County man, identified as 44-year-old Thomas P. Allen Sr. from Granville, New York, has entered a guilty plea to the charge of transportation of child pornography, as announced in a statement by Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office. The news, detailed on the U.S. Attorney's Office website, outlines that Allen admitted to uploading and receiving illicit images of minors via internet and cellular phone between February 2016 and November 2018, and then again in December 2019.
The federal prosecution has stressed the gravity of Allen's actions as an affront to the law and to children's innocence. "Thomas P. Allen’s deliberate and calculated use of the internet to transport and possess child pornography is a violation of the law and the innocence of children," Sarcone stated, emphasizing the commitment to ensure that those exploiting children will "face the full force of the law,” according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The case was investigated by the FBI in collaboration with the New York State Police.
Following his plea, Allen faces a potential prison sentence ranging from a mandatory minimum of 5 years to a maximum of 20 years. Sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2026, before United States District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino. He may also be fined up to $250,000 and could be subject to a term of supervised release lasting from five years to life, in addition to being required to register as a sex offender.
Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative aimed at identifying, prosecuting, and convicting individuals involved in the exploitation of children, while also working to locate and assist victims. Additional information about Project Safe Childhood and its strategies for protecting children can be found at the link provided.
