Federal Bureau of Investigation - Buffalo Field Division - Department of Justice Press Release

Niagara County Sheriff's Office Investigator identifies and arrests a local child pornographer.

Laurie J. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Buffalo Field Office, and Sheriff Thomas A. Beilein, Niagara County Sheriff's Office, announce today the joint arrest of Richard Paul Chervinsky, a 34 year old resident of 1st Avenue, North Tonawanda, New York, on July 6, 2007, for violations of Federal child pornography laws.

Niagara County Sheriff's Office Investigator Leonard E. Guagliano developed information in February of this year regarding possible illegal activity of Chervinsky. Investigator Guagliano shared this information and his investigation with undercover FBI Agents of the Innocent Images Initiative, a national undercover operation aimed at identifying child pornographers, and the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory of Western New York. As a consequence, forensic evidence was developed showing Chervinsky violated Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2) and (a)(4), receipt of visual depiction of persons under 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct and the possession of such depictions. As a consequence, a Federal Criminal Complaint was issued for the arrest of Chervinsky.

Chervinsky appeared before a Federal Magistrate Judge on Friday, July 6, 2007, and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday, July 10, 2007.

SAC Bennett stated that without cooperation of the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, and in particular, the hard work of Investigator Guagliano, this child predator would not have been identified and brought into the criminal justice system. Sheriff Beilein said that he has made the protection of children a priority of his office and that predators will be identified and prosecuted.

This matter will be prosecuted under the direction of Terrence P. Flynn, United States Attorney for the Western District of New York.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This investigation continues.