BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Shayne M. Hildreth, 44, of Eagle, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to transportation of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that on February 24, 2018, a 15-year-old minor victim disclosed that she had been sexually abused by Hildreth and that she had seen child pornography on his cell phone. She reported that Hildreth was traveling from the Western District of New York to Aurora, MO. During an encounter with Hildreth later that day, law enforcement seized his cell phone. A search of the cell phone located 12 images of child pornography. Hildreth had engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor, which involved sexual contact on two separate occasions.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Aurora-Marionville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Wes Coatney, Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 23, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Arcara.
