Jose Perez

Convicted and sentenced. Jose Perez, 42, of Celoron, New York, was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor and sentenced to 78 months in prison and 30 years supervised release. He also admits that, on two or more occasions, he engaged in the sexual abuse, exploitation, and attempted sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor.

Introduction

Jose Perez is a 42-year-old resident of Celoron, New York, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York announced on October 2, 2026, that Perez had been sentenced to serve 78 months in prison and 30 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The conviction grew out of an investigation that began after Perez uploaded a child pornography file to an internet-based file storage service, and it carried his admission of sexually abusing a minor on two or more occasions.

Background Information

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on December 15, 2022, a search warrant was executed at Perez’s residence after he uploaded a child pornography file to Dropbox, an electronic service provider that offers internet-based file storage services. During the search, Perez’s cell phone was seized. A subsequent examination of the phone revealed approximately three images and one video of child pornography. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors less than 12 years old engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

The possession offense was therefore tied to material involving a prepubescent minor, the factor the conviction specifically cited. Beyond the images and video found on his phone, Perez admits that, on two or more occasions, he engaged in the sexual abuse, exploitation, and attempted sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor.

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

The sequence that ended in a federal conviction began with a single upload. Perez uploaded a child pornography file to Dropbox, an electronic service provider that offers internet-based file storage services, and that upload prompted the search warrant that was executed at his residence on December 15, 2022. The warrant search produced the seizure of his cell phone, and the examination of that phone — approximately three images and one video of child pornography, some of them depicting prepubescent minors less than 12 years old engaging in sexually explicit conduct — supplied the evidence behind the possession charge.

The case carried a further admission from Perez himself: that, on two or more occasions, he engaged in the sexual abuse, exploitation, and attempted sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor. That admission, disclosed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office at the time of sentencing, placed the possession conviction alongside conduct involving the direct abuse and exploitation of a child rather than possession alone.

Public Reaction and Consequences

The consequence announced in the case was the sentence itself. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Perez, convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison and 30 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing resulted from an investigation by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone; and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster.

Current Status

As of the October 2, 2026 announcement, Jose Perez had been sentenced to serve 78 months in prison, to be followed by 30 years of supervised release, on his conviction for possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo in the Western District of New York. The announcement of the sentencing by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo stands as the most recent public statement of the case’s outcome.

Impact on Their Career/Life

The sentencing places Perez in federal prison for 78 months, with a supervised release term of 30 years to follow — a supervision period extending decades past his release from custody. His admission that, on two or more occasions, he engaged in the sexual abuse, exploitation, and attempted sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor, together with the conviction for possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, defines the public record attached to his name as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Sources

• U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York, “Chautauqua County man going to prison for possession of child pornography,” October 2, 2026 — source