Buffalo Ledger

A federal grand jury has indicted Matthew A. Steele, 53, of Elma, NY, on charges related to the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango stated that according to the indictment, Steele coerced a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct on multiple occasions between July 2008 and July 2012 for the purpose of producing visual depictions. Steele then distributed some of these images and possessed images of a prepubescent minor on a hard drive.

Steele was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was detained.

The indictment resulted from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations under Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the Great Falls, Montana Police Department under Chief Jeff Newton.

"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," emphasized U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross.