Clinton County Man Pleads Guilty To Child Pornography Conspiracy
Friday, December 13, 2024, 4:55 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
SYRACUSE, NY.- On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Richard Hockersmith, 65, of Plattsburgh, New York, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Anne M. Nardacci to Conspiracy to Receive and Distribute Child Pornography; and Possession of Child Pornography.
According To The U.S. Attorney’s Office
According to U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman and during Tuesday’s plea allocution, Hockersmith admitted that in August 2022, he began conspiring with his co-defendant, Jack Kelly, about exchanging and sharing digital images and video files depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
Hockersmith further admitted that he and Kelly decided to exchange their child pornography by mailing an SD card containing the child pornography back and forth to each other. Hockersmith also admitted that during the search of his home on September 12, 2024, he still possessed the SD card that he and Kelly used to receive and distribute child pornography through the U.S. Mail, which still contained digital images and video files of child pornography.
Judge Accepts Plea And Schedules Sentencing
Following his plea allocution, Judge Nardacci accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for April 9, 2025, in the U.S. District Court in Albany, New York, at which time Hockersmith faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison, at least five years and up to life of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. The actual term of imprisonment will be determined by a U.S. District Court Judge based on the seriousness of the offense and Hockersmith’s prior criminal history.
At the time of sentencing, Hockersmith will be required to pay restitution to his identified victims, and he will be required, upon his release from federal prison, to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Freedman commended the investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police in securing Hockersmith’s conviction. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
