Otsego County Man Arrested for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Justin Hobbie, age 41, of Springfield Center, New York, appeared today in federal court on charges that he received and distributed child pornography over the internet.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Kevin M. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to the federal criminal complaint, Hobbie received and distributed images of child pornography using a peer-to-peer file sharing program.  An initial review of his desktop computer revealed that it contained numerous video files depicting child pornography. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If convicted, Hobbie faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a term of post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.  Additionally, if convicted, Hobbie would be required to register as a sex offender.

Hobbie appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks, who ordered him detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for December 12, 2018.

Anyone with information relevant to this investigation may call HSI’s Albany office at (518) 220-2129.

This case is being investigated by HSI Albany with assistance from the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey J. L. Brown.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood.  Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.