A resident of Appleton, New York, has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography following a previous conviction related to sexual abuse. James M. Lajoie, 30, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo.
Lajoie faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and could receive up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango said that Lajoie was previously convicted in June 2016 for Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and was sentenced to three years in prison with an additional ten years of post-release supervision. In August 2023, during a home inspection conducted by a New York Parole Officer, an unauthorized cell phone was found at Lajoie’s residence. The device contained about 54 images and four videos depicting child pornography.
“Lajoie obtained these images and videos of child pornography over the internet. Some of images depicted prepubescent minors and violence against children,” Mango stated.
The investigation involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation led by Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department under Chief James Stauffiger, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision headed by Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello.
Sentencing is set for December 4, 2025, before Judge Arcara.
