Law enforcement agencies work together to bring justice for young victims and families
From the U.S Attorney Michael DiGiaComo,
WYOMING COUNTY MAN GOING TO PRISON FOR TRANSPORTATION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Shayne M. Hildreth, 46, of Bliss, NY, who was convicted of transportation of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 117 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. 60 months of his federal sentence will be served consecutive to a sentence he received in New York State Court after being convicted in Wyoming County following a jury trial of use of a child in a sexual performance as a sexually motivated felony, unlawful surveillance in the second degree, criminal sexual act in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child.
On February 24, 2018, a 15-year-old minor victim disclosed that she had been sexually abused by Hildreth and that she had seen child pornography on his cell phone. She reported that Hildreth was traveling from the Western District of New York to Aurora, MO. During an encounter with Hildreth later that day, law enforcement seized his cell phone. A search of the cell phone located 12 images of child pornography. Hildreth had engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor, which involved sexual contact on two separate occasions.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Douglas A. C. Penrose. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Aurora-Marionville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Wes Coatney, Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional assistance was provided by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force and the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office.
REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER ARRESTED ON NEW CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eric A. Brown, 42, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 40 years.
According to the complaint, in February 2025, the New York State Police began investigating Eric Brown after receiving a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC received a tip from Quora, a social question-and-answer platform, stating that files of suspected child pornography were uploaded by an account subsequently traced to Brown. On June 24, 2026, investigators executed a search warrant at Brown’s Van Buren Street residence and seized two cell phones. A preliminary review of one of the cell phones determined that it contained suspected child pornography.
Brown is a Level-1 Sex Offender in New York State following a 2015 Conviction for Possessing Sexual Performance by a Child.
Brown made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was held pending a detention hearing on August 12, 2026.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
