Broome County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Possession and Receipt of Child Pornography

BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK - Neil Wesley, 47, of Broome County, New York, was sentenced on June 25, 2026 to 25 years in prison for receipt and possession of child pornography.

First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James and Broome County District Attorney F. Paul Battisti made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea, Wesley admitted he had been previously convicted of rape in New York in 2001. He also admitted that from at least December 2024 through February 2025 he received and distributed child pornography. Further, he admitted that in February 2025 he possessed over 200 images and 18 videos of child pornography.

In addition to the 25-year imprisonment term, United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi imposed 15 years of supervised release, forfeiture and directed restitution to victims of the offense.

"Another child predator is behind bars, thanks to the diligent work of the FBI, New York State Police and Broome County District Attorney's Office, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. "This defendant failed to correct his behavior the first time and has now been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his continued depravity. The U.S. Attorney's Office, together with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue those who prey on our children and use every resource available to bring them to justice."

FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli said, "Mr. Wesley, already a convicted rapist, horrifically exploited our most vulnerable by both possessing and distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). This 25-year sentence illustrates just how depraved his behavior was, but it also highlights how impactful law enforcement can be when we leverage our collective resources to hold these sick predators accountable. The FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is wholly committed to working with every level of law enforcement to investigate these dangerous predators and send them to prison where they belong."

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, "The State Police and our law enforcement partners have zero tolerance for those who prey on children, and this sentencing reflects the severity of these crimes and our commitment to finding justice for the victims. We will remain dedicated to intercepting the lengths child predators go through to exploit and harm children. I commend our State Police members, United States Attorney's Office, Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Broome County District Attorney's Office for their steadfast work in keeping innocent children safe."

Broome County District Attorney F. Paul Battisti said, "This sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of our law enforcement partners to protecting children and holding those who exploit them fully accountable. Cases involving the sexual exploitation of children require seamless collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies, and this investigation is a testament to what can be accomplished when we work together toward a common goal. I commend the FBI, the New York State Police, the United States Attorney's Office, and the dedicated members of our office whose coordinated efforts helped ensure this dangerous offender will no longer pose a threat to our community or to vulnerable children."

FBI-Albany, the New York State Police, and the Broome County District Attorney's Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Gadarian and Kristen Grabowski prosecuted it.

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.