Rochester Resident Arrested For Child Sex Offense Crimes

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y.- Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Amit Pandey, 41, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production of child pornography and online enticement of a minor. The charges carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the case, stated that Pandey was arrested in February, 2017 by deputies with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office when he was discovered having sex in a parked vehicle with a 16-year old minor female. The defendant’s cell phone was seized during the arrest. A forensic analysis uncovered sexually graphic chats and images using the Kik application between Pandey and the minor female. The defendant also used the cell phone to arrange to meet the minor victim for sex.

The defendant made an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and is being detained.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn and Special Agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James C. Spero.

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.