Michael St. Denny, Jr., a 36-year-old resident of St. Lawrence County, pled guilty on March 4 to distributing child pornography.
The case is significant as it highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address the exploitation of children online and bring offenders to justice.
According to the announcement by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Field Office, St. Denny admitted that in 2024 he distributed multiple files containing child pornography through a social media messaging application. The files included material depicting the sexual abuse of prepubescent children, some as young as infants.
Sarcone said: “As the Supreme Court recognized over 40 years ago, distribution of child pornography is deeply harmful because the victims are forever haunted by the knowledge that the worst moments of their lives have been memorialized and perpetually viewed by perverted people looking for sexual gratification at their expense. My Office will never stop pursuing those who sexually exploit children, and I applaud our partners at HSI for vigorously investigating these matters.”
Keegan said: “Exploiting children is among the most appalling conduct our agents encounter, and the material distributed in this case reflects a level of cruelty that is simply beyond words. Each day, HSI Massena personnel utilize every tool at our disposal to find and bring to justice anyone who creates, shares, or profits from the sexual abuse of minors. Together with our law enforcement counterparts, HSI will not waver in our mission to stand between predators and the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
St. Denny faces sentencing on July 3, where he could receive between five and twenty years in prison, post-release supervision ranging from five years up to life, a fine up to $250,000, restitution payments to victims, forfeiture of property used in committing the offense, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. Sentencing will be determined by a judge based on statutory requirements and other factors.
The investigation was conducted by HSI with assistance from the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit and St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case under Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section aimed at combating child sexual exploitation online.
