CONTACT: Barbara Burns

PHONE: (716) 843-5817

FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Andrew Lynch, a/k/a Gregory O’Neil, 30, of Crystal River, Florida, with production and receipt of child pornography, enticement of a minor, and cyberstalking. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, the defendant used Facebook to engage in sexual conversations and obtain sexually explicit images from Victim 1 who was under the age of 18. Lynch then engaged in sextortion, using those conversations and images to coerce Victim 1 into sending additional explicit pictures, videos, and engage in sexual video chats.

The defendant began communicating with Victim 1, who was 13 years old, on Facebook in late April 2018. After initially refusing to send Lynch nude photos, Victim 1 eventually sent both photos and videos because the defendant threatened to send messages to her family and friends. Lynch continued to coerce Victim 1 into sending photos and videos through the use of threats for approximately three weeks.

The defendant is being detained in Florida and will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date for arraignment.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Guyton.

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

# # # #