St. Lawrence County Man Sentenced to 95 Years for Child Sexual Exploitation Crimes

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK -Stacey J. LaPorte, Jr., age 27, of Massena, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 95 years in federal prison, following his convictions for sexually exploiting four children including two babies, and receiving pornography, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II, and Resident Agent in Charge Russell Linstad, Homeland Security Investigations, Massena, New York.

Following a June 2017 trial, a jury in United States District Court in Utica, New York, found LaPorte guilty of conspiring with Mackenzie Bailey, age 22, of Massena, to sexually exploit a child from the time the child was an infant until age two, and with using that child to produce sexually explicit images on two specific occasions.  He was also convicted of conspiring with Hillary Trimm, age 26, also of Massena, to sexually exploit another child, who had not yet turned one, and a twelve-year-old boy and his sixteen-year-old sister whom he coerced to have sexual contact so that he could create images.   Finally, he was convicted of receiving child pornography from another user via a computer-messaging program.

“There are few crimes as evil as the prolonged sexual abuse of infants.  LaPorte did that, produced sexually explicit images of the abuse, sexually exploited siblings, and received child pornography.  His sentence to imprisonment for 95 years should ensure that no other children are victimized by this perverse predator.  We will continue to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to hold child predators accountable for their abominable actions,” said United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith. 

New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said, “The State Police and our law enforcement partners have zero tolerance for those who prey on children, and this sentence reflects the severity of the crimes and our commitment to finding justice for the victims. We want to thank the agencies involved for their determination in holding this individual accountable for his reprehensible actions.”

"Investigations involving the sexual exploitation of innocent children are by far the most heinous crimes we encounter," said HSI Resident Agent in Charge Russell Linstad. "This significant sentencing ensures that Mr. Laporte will never again have access to children and should serve as a stark warning of the severe consequences that await those involved in these depraved acts."

Both Mackenzie Bailey and Hillary Trimm pled guilty to the crimes they committed with LaPorte, testified at his trial, and will each be sentenced later this month. 

In addition to the term of incarceration, if LaPorte is ever released from prison, he will be placed on supervised release for life, and will have to register as a sex offender. 

LaPorte’s case was investigated by the New York State Police, the Massena Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa M. Fletcher and Sahar L. Amandolare. 

This multi-agency approach is a hallmark 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.