South African Man Living in Jefferson County Sentenced for Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

South African Man Living in Jefferson County Sentenced for

Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

ALBANY, NEW YORK - Marcell M. Meyer, age 45, and a citizen of South Africa formerly residing in Sackets Harbor, New York was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for distributing and possessing child pornography announced 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).

As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Meyer admitted to using an internet-based social networking application installed on his cellular telephone to distribute multiple videos of child pornography to another user of the platform who Meyer believed to be a 13-year-old child, but who was actually an undercover HSI agent. Meyer also possessed child pornography on his cellular telephone on the day of his arrest.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, United States District Judge, Anthony J. Brindisi, also sentenced Meyer to serve a 5-year term of supervised release which will begin after Meyer is released from prison, at which time Meyer will also be required to register as a sex offender. Meyer was also ordered to pay $21,000 restitution to the victims of his offenses. Upon his release from federal prison Meyer will be immediately eligible for deportation proceedings.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone said: "Our law enforcement partners specialized cyber-crimes units are dedicated to identifying, tracking, and arresting those who exploit and harm children online. Thanks to their relentless work, and our office's prosecution, this defendant will serve 12 years in federal prison and will be subject to deportation afterward. We will continue to pursue anyone who preys on children and ensure they face lengthy prison sentences as a result of their crimes."

Acting Special Agent in Charge Patrone stated: "Marcell Meyer's sentence reflects the gravity of his crimes and the lasting harm caused by those who trade in child sexual abuse material. By distributing graphic abuse videos to someone he believed was a child and keeping this material on his phone, Meyer helped fuel a cycle of exploitation that revictimizes children every time these files are shared. HSI Syracuse will continue to pursue offenders who prey on children online and work with our partners to ensure victims are protected and predators are held accountable."

The case was investigated by HSI Syracuse and HSI Portland, Maine with the assistance from the New York State Police, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as a 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.