A 29-year-old Frewsburg man is behind bars after a yearlong investigation into suspected online exploitation of children in southern Chautauqua County, with investigators saying more charges could still be coming. Grey E. Snyder was taken into custody at the scene after authorities executed a search warrant on Main Street on Friday, and he now faces three separate charges tied to the alleged abuse.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office initiated the probe in 2025, and through that investigation identified Snyder as a suspect, according to observertoday.com. Investigators allege that, via online applications, Snyder directed, promoted and received obscene sexual performances of children, the outlet reported. As Newport Dispatch also reported, the sheriff's office worked the case in southern Chautauqua County before moving in on Snyder.
Search Warrant Turns Up Multiple Devices
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office and Homeland Security Investigations executed the search warrant together, and multiple devices were seized for later examination, per the same account. Snyder was taken into custody on scene and charged with use of a child in a sexual performance, promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child, and disseminating indecent materials to minors.
Under New York law, use of a child in a sexual performance is classified as a class C felony, according to the New York State Senate's legislative text. That charge sits within Article 263 of the state penal code, which also covers promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child, possessing such material, and promoting a sexual performance by a child more broadly, per the New York State Senate's statutory text.
Jailed on $150,000 Bail, Case Still Open
Snyder was transported to the Chautauqua County Jail for centralized arraignment, where he was remanded on bail set at $150,000 or $300,000, the article notes. Authorities say the case is still actively being investigated by the sheriff's office and its federal partners, and additional charges are believed to follow as a result of the ongoing probe.
Cases like this one are typically built through coordination between local and federal agencies. A separate investigation led by the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in late August, for example, drew in the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and other units before resulting in arrests, according to the New York State Police. That task force brings together sixty federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and prosecute people suspected of exploiting children online, the agency says on its site describing the Internet Crimes Against Children initiative.
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about the case to call 716-753-4921.
