New York Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Crimes

Jonathan MacDonald, a 33-year-old resident of Menands, New York, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for child pornography offenses. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci on October 2, 2026. In addition to his prison term, MacDonald will serve 15 years of supervised release and is required to pay $27,000 in restitution to nine victims.

MacDonald was initially charged by indictment in December 2025 with sexually exploiting children, receiving child pornography, and possessing child pornography. He pled guilty in May 2026 to the charges of receipt and possession of child pornography. The charges stem from an incident in February 2025, when MacDonald filmed himself engaging in a sexual act during a video call with two minor girls who appeared to be from Thailand. He had connected with the girls through the random video-calling app Omegle.

MacDonald's arrest occurred after he dropped a flash drive containing child pornography in the bathroom at his workplace. Law enforcement was able to identify him as the owner of the flash drive, leading to his arrest and subsequent prosecution.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with Assistant U. S. Attorney Nicholas Walter leading the prosecution.

First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III highlighted the dangerous nature of MacDonald's actions, emphasizing the commitment to protect child victims worldwide. Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Albany Field Office, noted the severity of MacDonald's behavior and the importance of the sentence in preventing further harm to children.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, working to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet.