Saranac Lake Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography

ALBANY, NEW YORK - William Strack II, age 37, of Saranac Lake, New York, pleaded guilty August 4, 2026, to eight counts of sexual exploitation of children.

First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Anthony Patrone, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James; and Saranac Lake Police Chief Darin Perrotte made the announcement.

The defendant was arrested on October 14, 2025, by the Saranac Lake Police Department. On November 5, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted the defendant on eight counts of sexual exploitation of children.

As part of his guilty plea, Strack admitted that between January 2022 and October 2025, he sexually abused three children and took videos and pictures of that abuse. Another minor child accessed the defendant's phone and saw the videos and images of the defendant sexually abusing an 11-year-old minor female, a 15-year-old minor female, and another 11-year-old-minor female. The minor child who accessed the defendant's phone reported the defendant to the Saranac Lake Police Department. The investigation revealed that the defendant had been sexually abusing children over a period of years.

"With this guilty plea, Mr. Strack now faces a potential life sentence for the horrific conduct he engaged in. For years, he was able to perpetrate these reprehensible acts, but thanks to the diligent efforts of the Saranac Lake Police Department and our partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the New York State Police, he will no longer be able to victimize innocent children in our community," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone.

HSI Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said, "William Strack II admitted to exploiting and abusing multiple minor victims over several years, creating images and videos that documented those horrific crimes - conduct that reflects a years-long pattern of predatory abuse and exploitation that inflicted profound harm on vulnerable children. HSI Rouses Point, together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, is committed to identifying predators, bringing them to justice, and protecting children from further harm. This case underscores the critical impact of collaborative investigations in safeguarding our communities and ensuring victims are heard, protected, and supported."

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, "We are committed to finding justice for victims of child exploitation and making sure those who threaten children in any capacity are put behind bars. The acts performed by Mr. Strack are unconscionable and this type of behavior cannot, and should not, be tolerated in our society. I thank all our partners involved in this case for their unwavering dedication in making sure every child is protected from any source of harm."

This sentence sends a strong message that crimes against children will not be tolerated in our community," said Chief Darin Perrotte. "Protecting the most vulnerable members of our community - our children - remains one of the highest priorities of the Saranac Lake Police Department. These investigations are difficult and deeply disturbing, but our Officers remain committed to pursuing justice for victims and holding offenders fully accountable for their actions. Cases involving the exploitation and abuse of children require strong partnerships and collaboration between agencies. We are grateful for the professionalism, dedication, and expertise provided by all agencies involved in this investigation and prosecution."

When he is sentenced on December 2, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of up to life, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. The defendant will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be responsible for restitution to the victims. A defendant's sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes that the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

Strack has been detained since his arrest on October 14, 2025.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, with assistance from the New York State Police and the Saranac Lake Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham is prosecuting the case.

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.