A 29-year-old West Seneca man has been arrested on charges of possessing child pornography, a crime that could lead to a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced the arrest of Joseph A. Buelow, following an investigation initiated by the West Seneca Police Department and volunteer group Finger Lakes Pred Catchers.
The investigation began in February 2024 when Pred Catchers informed local authorities that Buelow had been communicating with what he believed to be underage girls on a dating app. These profiles were actually operated by Pred Catchers volunteers. Buelow allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations and sent nude photos, believing he was interacting with minors. Although he arranged to meet these supposed minors, he never showed up at the agreed locations.
In April, the West Seneca Police Department involved the FBI, leading to the discovery of child pornography on Buelow’s cell phone during a search. Authorities also identified at least one minor victim that Buelow is suspected of sexually abusing.
Buelow appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained pending further legal proceedings. The investigation involved the FBI, West Seneca Police Department, and Town of Tonawanda Police Department.
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