Hamburg Man Sentenced for Sending Indecent Text Messages to Minor

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Ezechiel Travis, 39, of Hamburg, was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Kelly Vacco. Travis received an indeterminate sentence of 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison. He will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.

On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the defendant sent text messages to the juvenile victim in violation of an existing order of protection. The defendant intentionally placed the victim in reasonable fear of physical injury, serious physical injury or death by communicating with the victim while knowing there was an order of protection in place. The defendant, knowing the character and content of the words and images, sent the communication to induce the minor to engage in a sexual performance or sexual conduct for his own benefit. The defendant knowingly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of the child. The victim's mother reported the incident to police.

In September 2026, a jury found Travis guilty of one count of Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the First Degree (Class D felony), one count of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree (Class E felony), and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class A misdemeanor). Jurors rendered their decision after less than an hour of deliberation following a three-day trial, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment.

Today, a final order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim, which remains in effect until November 2040.

DA Keane commends Detective Nicholas Borowski of the Town of Hamburg Police Department, ECDA Victim Case Manager Nicole Haffa and ECDA Chief of Technology Frank Palisano for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Chief Rebecca A. Fioravanti of the Special Victims Unit and Assistant District Attorney Ryan A. Emmerling of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit.