BUFFALO – The former General Manager and assistant coach for Jamestown’s NA3HL team, the Southern Tier Xpress, is facing charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Former Jamestown resident, Travis D. Sanders, 32, of, North Richland Hills, Texas, was charged by criminal complaint Wednesday afternoon.
Prosecutors said that the charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy V. Murray, who is handling the case, said in a press release Homeland Security Investigations received a report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police National Child Exploitation Center that an individual was communicating with a person with the username “Damion Forsberg” on Skype.
The report indicated that “Forsberg” regularly shared pornography that sometimes included children in the content, and was believed to reside in Buffalo, NY or Florida.
Subsequent investigation determined that “Forsberg” was actually Sanders, who resided at the time in Jamestown.
Law enforcement officers seized Sanders’ laptop and cellular telephone.
A forensic examination of the defendant’s laptop computer revealed images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The preliminary examination of the phone did not immediately reveal visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct but did reveal social networking applications with the alias “Damion Forsberg.”
Officers also discovered that the defendant was chatting with a self-proclaimed minor female in 7th grade, from whom he requested her Snapchat account.
Investigators ask members of the public who have specific information related to this case are urged to contact the HSI Buffalo Office at 716-464-6070.
HSI victim-witness specialists will be available to assist any parent or guardian should they need victim-related resources.
Prosecutors urge anyone with general questions or concerns regarding sexual abuse of children or would like guidance on how to discuss this issue with children, to call the Child Advocacy Program at 716-338-9844.
Sanders was arrested in Texas and made an initial appearance in the Northern District of Texas. He is being detained and will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly.
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