Jerod Schaffer, a 42-year-old resident of Potsdam, New York, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and for receipt and possession of child pornography. The sentencing was announced by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Schaffer had previously been convicted in Franklin County, New York, in 2014 for attempted sexual abuse in the first degree. This earlier conviction required him to register as a sex offender. In his most recent case, Schaffer admitted that he met a 14-year-old girl online in November 2021 and solicited sexually explicit images from her. In early 2022, he traveled from New York to Ohio where he engaged in sexual conduct with the minor on multiple occasions and recorded these acts. When law enforcement searched his home in May 2022, they found dozens of sexually explicit files involving the victim.
Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd also ordered Schaffer to serve a 10-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment. Upon release, Schaffer will be required to continue registering as a sex offender.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “This sentence ensures that a child rapist, who recorded the abuse he inflicted on his victim, will remain in federal prison for decades to come. Our community is safer with this pedophile behind bars. My Office will continue to work with our federal and state partners to ensure that child predators get what they deserve.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “Jerod Schaffer willfully and repeatedly exploited a 14-year-old girl whom he traveled across state lines to meet. While no amount of justice can undo the trauma this victim incurred, today’s sentence ensures this child predator will not soon roam free.”
The investigation was conducted by HSI and the Potsdam Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Adrian S. LaRochelle prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is an initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) that aims to address child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide by coordinating resources at various levels of government to apprehend offenders who use the internet to exploit children and identify victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
