North Syracuse Sex Offender Charged with Receiving Child Pornography

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Matthew Flandera, age 43, of North Syracuse, New York, appeared in federal court August 6, 2026, on charges of receiving child pornography. At an August 11, 2026, detention hearing in Syracuse, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Carla B. Freedman, Flandera was detained pending further proceedings.

First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Anthony Patrone, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

The complaint filed against Flandera alleges that on or about February 12, 2025, Flandera received a video of child pornography over the internet. A forensic review of devices recovered in the defendant's residence contained numerous cached images of child pornography. Flandera admitted to using chat messaging services to receive child pornography files. He also acknowledged that he recognized and received one of the files from a user on the Omegle platform in 2025 and later uploaded the files to another account.

The complaint also states that Flandera was convicted on June 14, 2013, of possessing a sexual performance by a child less than 16 years old and was sentenced to 10 years probation and required to register as a level 1 sex offender.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone said, "As alleged, this defendant's conduct is utterly indefensible. What is particularly troubling is that despite a prior conviction, New York's increasingly soft-on-crime approach resulted in a probationary sentence that failed to deter him from allegedly reoffending. My office, together with our partners at HSI, remains steadfast in our commitment to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting alleged child predators to the fullest extent of the law. Flandera now faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison for his alleged actions and will answer for these allegations in federal court."

HSI Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said, "Matthew Flandera's alleged crimes represent far more than possession or receipt of illegal images; they reflect the continued exploitation of vulnerable children and a direct threat to the trust and safety of the community. The gravity of these allegations is heightened by what every parent fears most: an active member of the community frequently interacting with children while allegedly concealing conduct rooted in depravity and exploitation. This case is personal to HSI Syracuse, and we will stop at nothing to identify predators, bring them to justice, and protect our children from those who seek to exploit them."

The receipt charge filed against Flandera carries a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and a statutory maximum prison term of 40 years based on Flandera's previous conviction. The charge also carries a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Flandera will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The charges presented are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Individuals with additional information regarding Flandera, who also used the name Matthew Flanders, are encouraged to contact HSI at 1-866-347-2423.

This case was investigated by HSI and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle and Michael J. Whalen are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals 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.