STAFF REPORTS
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BUFFALO — Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Daniel Krull, 44, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of distribution of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law for possessing a sexual performance by a child, was sentenced to 27 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that the between Nov. 6, 2015, and Nov. 8, 2015, the defendant, using the Facebook profile “Danny Blaze,” distributed 11 images of child pornography to other individuals via a private group on Facebook. As a result, Facebook shut down the private group used by Krull and submitted a CyberTipline report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on Feb. 28, 2016.
On Aug. 23, 2016, the defendant’s cellular telephone was seized by the Niagara County Probation Department. A forensic examination revealed approximately 2,026 images and 20 videos of child pornography depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors or minors less than 12 years of age and depictions of graphic violence. During the investigation, Krull admitted that he previously sexually molested three minor females. The defendant also admitted that on several occasions during the summer of 2016, he followed numerous minor females at a local retail store, would become sexually stimulated and once he was back in his car or his residence, Krull would engage in masturbation.
In March 2007, the defendant was convicted in state court of possessing a sexual performance by a child less than 16 years of age.
