An 82-year-old man from Rome, New York, has pleaded guilty to multiple federal child pornography charges, including conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
John Kelly admitted to conspiring with co-defendant Richard Hockersmith in August 2022 to exchange child pornography using mailed SD cards. A search of Kelly’s residence on February 23, 2024, revealed he still possessed illegal images and videos on the same laptop he had used in the conspiracy.
“This predator will never harm another child again,” said U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Let this be a message: we will find you, we will expose you, and we will bring you to justice — no mercy, no hiding, no exceptions.”
Hockersmith previously pleaded guilty on December 10, 2024.
Kelly is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10 before U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci in Albany. He faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a supervised release term of five years to life, and a potential fine of $250,000. He will also be required to pay restitution to his victims and register as a sex offender upon release.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with help from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is prosecuting the case.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc.
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