Two Rochester Residents Charged With Production, Receipt, Distribution, And Possession Of Child Pornography

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Joshua Sattora, 35, and Rebecca Woodin, 34, both of Rochester, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production, receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTipline Report indicating that a Dropbox user, later identified as defendant Joshua Sattora, was in possession of child pornography. A search warrant was then executed at Sattora’s Rochester residence. Investigators seized multiple electronic devices that contained thousands of images and videos of child pornography. Investigators also seized Sattora’s cell phone which contained a series of a series of text message conversations between Sattora and an individual later identified as Rebecca Woodin.

In those text messages, the defendants discussed their mutual interest in child pornography and their desire to have sexual contact with children in general. They also discussed at length their desire to have sexual contact with Minor Victim 1 in particular. Minor Victim 1 was either five or six years old during the course of the alleged conduct and was known to defendant Woodin. Sattora and Woodin talked in sexually explicit language about Minor Victim 1. Woodin also sent Sattora naked pictures of Minor Victim 1.

The defendants also exchanged explicit text messages about a second victim, Minor Victim 2.

Sattora also sent Woodin a screen shot of a document entitled “The Pedophile's Handbook.” Sattora wrote “yeah goes into detail about everything from how to find a girl to how to groom her to making sure she stays quiet afterwards.”

The defendants made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and were held pending a detention hearing. Woodin’s detention hearing will take place on January 30, 2020; Sattora’s detention hearing has not yet been scheduled.

The complaint is a result of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eric Laughton; and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

Laurel meth trafficker sentenced to 10 years in prison

BILLINGS—A Laurel man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release for conviction on drug trafficking crimes after law enforcement officers found methamphetamine in a motel room he had occupied, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

William Anthony Rogers, 30, pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and to possession with intent to distribute meth.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

The prosecution said in court records that Billings Police officers were dispatched to the Boothill Inn in Billings on July 16, 2018 because two men were passed out in a motel room after check out and could not be awakened. One of the men woke up as officers entered the room and grabbed a meth pipe on a night stand. The second man, identified as Rogers, then woke up. Although officers saw pills and paraphernalia in plain view, they released both men pending arrest warrants because the jail was too full to accept new inmates.

After the men left, the officers looked around the room, found a silver briefcase, opened it and saw what appeared to be a large amount of meth. Officers called the Billings drug task force, which got a search warrant for the room. During the search, officers found about six ounces of meth in the briefcase and a 9mm handgun in a separate locked case. Surveillance video from the motel showed Rogers carrying the briefcase that contained the meth.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Suek prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI task force.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and Project Safe Neighborhoods, the USDOJ’s initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 through 2018. Through these initiatives, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

Convicted Buffalo Bank Robber Charged Again

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Joseph Licata, 52, of Buffalo, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with bank robbery. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Cullinane, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on January 21, 2020, the defendant entered the M&T Bank branch on Grant Street in Buffalo, and passed a demand note to the victim-teller. The note threatened the teller if the teller did not give him cash.  The victim-teller complied and gave Licata U.S. currency. Later that same day, law enforcement officers arrested the defendant and found him in possession of currency taken during the robbery.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained.  In 2011, Licata also committed bank robbery in Buffalo, and was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison.

The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.