BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Gary Todd Baker, 52, of Amherst, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession of child pornography. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that on March 4, 2020, the defendant was convicted in Erie County Court of possession of a sexual performance by a child under the age of 16. Baker was designated a level-2 sex offender, and sentenced to 10 years’ probation.
On March 12, 2020, eight days into his probation term, Erie County Probation Officers conducting a routine check discovered that the defendant possessed an internet-capable cellular device, as well as empty boxes of printer ink and paper. After questioning Baker, Probation Officers located a bag containing numerous torn-up printed images. Members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force reassembled several of the images and confirmed that they depicted child pornography. The defendant was subsequently arrested on May 28, 2020. At the time of his arrest, Baker was found to be in possession of hundreds of additional images of child pornography.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Erie County Probation Department, under the direction of Commissioner Brian McLaughlin; and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. Stauffiger.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 13, 2022, before Judge Sinatra.
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