U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Registered Sex Offender Arrested on Child Pornography Charge

CONTACT: Barbara Burns

PHONE: (716) 843-5817

FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Matthew Bald, 40, of Lockport, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, lifetime supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that in November 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) contacted the New York State Police (NYSP) after receiving a Cybertipline Report involving an image of a suspected sexual performance by a child. The NYSP contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the image was traced to the residence of the defendant, who is a registered Level 2 sex offender following his March 2011 conviction for Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

On December 15, 2020, the NYSP, Niagara County Probation, and HSI executed a state search warrant at the defendant’s Lockport residence. During the execution of the search warrant, several digital items were located and seized, including a laptop computer and hard drive. Analysis of those items revealed numerous files of suspected child pornography.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was released on conditions.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major James Hall, the Niagara County Probation Department, under the direction of Director John Cicchetti, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/registered-sex-offender-arrested-child-pornography-charge

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Alaska

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Former Bethel Principal Sentenced to 15 Years for Trying to Sexually Entice a Minor

ANCHORAGE – A Bethel, Alaska, man was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 15 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for trying to sexually entice a minor.

According to court documents Christopher Allen Carmichael, 57, a former principal working in the Lower Kuskokwim School District in Bethel, pled guilty in November 2020 to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Carmichael became the subject of a federal investigation in November 2019 when the Bethel Police Department contacted the FBI concerning Carmichael’s online activities. During the investigation, Carmichael began engaging in graphic sexual communications with an undercover FBI agent posing as a fictional 13-year-old girl. In a series of text messages in December 2019, Carmichael graphically described several sexually explicit acts he would do to her. Carmichael continued to remind the fictional 13-year-old girl to delete their messages and that it was important they keep referring to her like she was 18 so that he wouldn’t get into trouble.

“With today’s sentencing we have removed this predator from the community and sent a resounding message that we are committed to aggressively prosecuting anyone who seeks to exploit children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska.

“No child should ever have to go through this. Parents and communities entrusted Carmichael with a great responsibility, but he abused that position of trust in the most disgraceful way imaginable,” said Robert Britt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Carmichael will now be held accountable for his horribly disturbing conduct.”

The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Bethel Police Department, the Alaska State Troopers, and the Anchorage Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Doty prosecuted the case.

This case is part of the Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN) initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities. Led

by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, it encourages extensive collaboration among law enforcement at all levels, rural communities, Alaska Native groups, victim service organizations and care providers.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/pr/former-bethel-principal-sentenced-15-years-trying-sexually-entice-minor