Charges Of Sexual Exploitation And Child Pornography Involving An Infant

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the arrest yesterday of CORY MATTHEWS, and the Indictment, on April 29^th, of BETH SAIERS, a/k/a "Beth Young." MATTHEWS and SAIERS are charged in separate charging instruments with sexual exploitation of an infant and the receipt and distribution of child pornography. MATTHEWS was taken into federal custody yesterday and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause in White Plains federal court and detained. BETH SAIERS was arrested in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, on April 23, 2026, pursuant to a Complaint that was unsealed on April 23, 2026. A Grand Jury in the Southern District of New York returned an Indictment of SAIERS on April 29, 2026.

"The charges here-sexual exploitation of an infant-allege horrific conduct," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Every New Yorker wants children protected from life-scarring conduct. We know our community wants this conduct investigated and, as appropriate, charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The women and men of this Office are dedicated to that mission."

As alleged in the charging documents and statements made in court:[1]

On or about April 16, 2026, law enforcement executed a search of MATTHEWS's residence in Putnam County pursuant to a New York state search warrant. Among the items seized was MATTHEWS's cellphone.

A search of the phone revealed chats on a social media application between MATTHEWS and SAIERS on April 14, 2026. In the course of the chats, MATTHEWS transmitted an image of an infant ("Victim-1") to SAIERS, who responded "Put your dick in its face[.]" Thereafter, MATTHEWS transmitted an image in which Victim-1 is visible in the background and a man's erect penis occupies the foreground. MATTHEWS asked, "Now what," to which SAIERS responded, "Take a pic of my pedo dick in front of the babies face[.]" Thereafter, as MATTHEWS transmitted a series of sexually explicit photos and videos of Victim-1 to SAIERS, SAIERS commented on the images and directed MATTHEWS to engage in sexual acts involving Victim-1.

On or about April 16, 2026, MATTHEWS was arrested and charged in the Town of Kent, New York, with promoting a sexual performance by a child and possessing a sexual performance by a child. On or about April 19, 2026, following the discovery of the photos and videos depicting the sexual abuse of Victim-1, additional charges were added. The charges included, among other things, predatory sex assault against a child and rape in the first degree.

On or about April 23, 2026, SAIERS was arrested in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, pursuant to a Complaint filed on April 21, 2026, in the Southern District of New York. SAIERS was detained pending her removal to New York. On or about April 29, 2026, a Grand Jury in the Southern District of New York indicted SAIERS for sexual exploitation of a child and receipt and distribution of child pornography.

There may be other victims. If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.

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MATTHEWS, 38, of Kent, New York, and SAIERS, 41, of Lockhaven, Pennsylvania, are each charged with sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; and receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Putnam County District Attorney's Office, Putnam County Child Advocacy Center Team, Putnam County Department of Social Services, New York State Police, Town of Carmel Police Department, Town of Kent Police Department, and the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania Police Department in connection with this investigation.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcia S. Cohen and Jake Sidransky are in charge of the prosecution.