Syracuse man sentenced to 168 months on child porn charges
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Lawrence Boone, age 28, of Syracuse, New York, was sentenced today to 168 months in federal prison for multiple counts of distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, along with Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James.
Boone engaged in criminal activities over several months, specifically from August through November 2023, during which he sent and received images and videos of child pornography through a smartphone messaging application. Law enforcement authorities found over 3,000 unique files that constituted child pornography on four of Boone’s electronic devices at the time of his arrest. These unsettling files included images of prepubescent minors and depicted sadistic and masochistic conduct, as well as instances of sexual abuse involving toddlers and infants.
During the sentencing, United States Chief District Judge Brenda K. Sannes mandated that Boone serve a 15-year term of post-incarceration supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to forfeit the electronic devices used to commit these heinous offenses. Upon his release from prison, Boone will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The investigation into Boone’s activities was carried out by HSI, the NYSP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the NYSP Troop D Computer Crime Unit. The prosecution of the case was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood, initiated in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, is a concerted effort that involves United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). This project aims to harness federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children online, while also working diligently to identify and rescue victims.
