An Oswego man was ordered detained after a federal court appearance on charges involving the sexual exploitation of a child and the transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Emerardo Vasquez-Lopez, 20, appeared Oct. 9 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell Katz in Syracuse, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office release.
A criminal complaint alleges Vasquez-Lopez sexually abused a 9-year-old child between August and October 2024 and created images and videos of the abuse.
Prosecutors said he uploaded the material to a cloud storage account he controlled. The complaint also alleges he downloaded child sexual abuse material from that account and possessed some of it on an electronic device seized when he was arrested.
The sexual exploitation charge carries a prison term of 15 to 30 years if he is convicted. The transportation charge carries five to 20 years, and the possession charge carries up to 20 years.
Each count also carries a potential fine of up to $250,000 and supervised release ranging from five years to life. A judge would determine a sentence under the applicable statutes, federal sentencing guidelines and other factors.
A conviction would also require sex-offender registration after release from prison. Prosecutors said Vasquez-Lopez lacks lawful immigration status and could ultimately face deportation.
Homeland Security Investigations and the New York State Police are investigating. Acting HSI Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said investigators work to identify people exploiting children, safeguard victims and hold offenders accountable.
Adrian LaRochelle is prosecuting the case through Project Safe Childhood, the federal initiative that coordinates agencies investigating child exploitation and identifying and rescuing victims.
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