Defendant Faces Up To 20 years In Federal Prison After Admitting He Distributed Files Depicting The Sexual Abuse Of Young Children Through A Messaging Application

Sunday, March 15, 2026, 8:15 A.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

ALBANY, NY.- A St. Lawrence County, New York man has admitted in federal court that he distributed child sexual abuse material through an online messaging platform, federal authorities announced.

     Michael St. Denny, Jr., 36, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026, to Distribution of Child Pornography, according to a joint announcement by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

     As part of his guilty plea, St. Denny admitted that during 2024, he distributed multiple files containing child sexual abuse material to other users of a social-media messaging application. Federal prosecutors said the material included graphic depictions of the sexual abuse of prepubescent children, including some victims as young as infants.

     The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, including personnel assigned to the agency’s Massena office, which handles federal investigations across portions of northern New York near the Canadian border.

     In announcing the guilty plea, Sarcone emphasized the enduring harm inflicted on victims whose abuse is recorded and circulated online.

     “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,” Sarcone said. “My Office will never stop pursuing those who sexually exploit children, and I applaud our partners at HSI for vigorously investigating these matters.”

     Federal investigators say cases involving online child sexual exploitation remain a major enforcement priority, with authorities increasingly relying on cyber-forensics, digital tracking methods, and international law-enforcement cooperation to identify individuals who distribute illegal material over internet platforms.

     Keegan, who leads Homeland Security Investigations’ Buffalo Field Office, said the conduct uncovered in the case underscores the severity of crimes involving the exploitation of minors.

     “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,” Keegan said. “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 now faces significant federal penalties. When he is sentenced on July 3, 2026, he faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.

     In addition to any term of federal imprisonment, federal law requires the court to impose a term of post-release supervision of at least five years and up to life, along with mandatory registration as a sex offender.

     The defendant may also face a fine of up to $250,000, restitution to any identified victims, and forfeiture of property used to commit the offense, according to federal prosecutors.

     Under federal sentencing procedures, the final penalty will be determined by a judge after considering the statute governing the offense, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other statutory factors related to the defendant’s conduct and criminal history.

Editor’s Note:

This report was written by Art Fletcher and contains references to crimes involving the sexual exploitation of minors. Englebrook Independent News limits graphic details while reporting on such cases due to the sensitive nature of the crimes and the ongoing need to protect victims. Information in this article is based on official statements from the United States Attorney’s Office and federal law-enforcement authorities. All defendants are presumed innocent until sentencing and final judgment by the court.