A man from Utica will serve two decades in prison after federal authorities said he distributed child pornography while under parole supervision.
Dustin Smith, 31, was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison for distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
Smith had a prior 2013 conviction for sexual abuse in the first degree. While under parole supervision for that offense in 2022, he used a cell phone to exchange child pornography with at least two identified minor children. Prosecutors said Smith possessed thousands of images and videos of child pornography on the device.
Senior U.S. District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered Smith to serve 15 years of supervised release following his prison term. Smith must pay $102,000 in restitution to the victims, forfeit his phone, and register as a sex offender after release.
“While under parole supervision, Smith distributed child pornography to a minor, demonstrating that he cannot be at liberty without harming children,” said U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “With this 20-year sentence, our children are safer.”
Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Buffalo, said, “Northern New York is undoubtedly a safer place with Dustin Smith behind bars. This sex offender has an admitted history of abhorrent crimes against children.”
The case was investigated by HSI with help from the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit, New York State Parole, and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide effort to combat the online sexual exploitation of children. More information is available at www.justice.gov/psc.
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