ALBANY, NEW YORK – Derek Boprey, age 32, of Ravena, New York, was sentenced today to 108 months in prison, to be followed by 30 years of supervised release, for distributing child pornography via an encrypted messaging application on his phone.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

As part of his guilty plea, Boprey admitted that on March 23, 2018, he used the Wickr Me messaging application to distribute child pornography over the internet to Benjamin Varieur.  Boprey, using the name “durb30,” sent dozens of images of child pornography, including images depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as 2 years old.  Boprey also pled guilty to possessing child pornography on 2 electronic devices.

Varieur, age 34, of Saratoga Springs, New York, and formerly of the Town of Brunswick, New York, was also sentenced, on January 23, 2019, to 108 months in prison, to be followed by 30 years of supervised release.  United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentenced both defendants. 

These cases were investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department.  These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Barnett.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Benjamin J. Varieur, age 33, of Saratoga Springs, New York, and formerly of Brunswick, New York, pled guilty today to receiving child pornography via an encrypted messaging application on his phone.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

As part of his guilty plea, Varieur admitted that from March 22, 2018 to March 25, 2018, he used the Wickr Me messaging application to receive child pornography over the internet from another man.  Varieur, using the name “bigman6012,” requested and received dozens of images of child pornography, including images depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as 2 years old.

Varieur, who has been detained since his arrest in April, faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, to be followed by post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, when he is sentenced in January by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.  Varieur would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Barnett.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood.  Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States 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.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Benjamin J. Varieur, age 33, of Saratoga Springs, New York, was arrested yesterday and charged today with receiving child pornography.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Varieur made an initial appearance in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered him detained pending further proceedings.

The complaint filed against Varieur alleges that in March 2018, he used an encrypted messaging application on his phone to receive child pornography over the Internet.  The charges in the complaint are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

If convicted on all charges, Varieur faces a minimum 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.  A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. 

This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood.  Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States 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.