Jeffrey Paden, 57, of Kennedy, NY, has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced Thursday. Paden’s plea comes after a previous conviction for the same offense and carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum potential sentence of 20 years, along with a fine of up to $250,000.
In June 2015, Paden was convicted of federal charges related to possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. However, on August 29, 2023, the New York State Police executed a search warrant at Paden’s residence after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The search revealed several electronic devices, including a thumb drive and a laptop computer, which contained a total of approximately 551 images of child pornography. Many of these images depicted prepubescent minors and included scenes of violence against children. This disturbing discovery led to the new charges against Paden.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the leadership of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the New York State Police, directed by Major Stanley Edwards III, and the NCMEC.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is prosecuting the case, emphasized the severity of Paden’s repeated offenses and the critical role of inter-agency cooperation in securing the plea. “This case underscores the importance of vigilance and coordination among federal and state agencies to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” Mango stated.
Paden is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. His prior conviction and the significant quantity and nature of the images found are expected to influence the severity of his sentencing.
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