LEVEL 3 SEX OFFENDER ARRESTED ON NEW CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

Rochester, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Robert Carrigan, 54, of Farmington, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years and a $250,000 fine.

According to the complaint, in December 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a child pornography CyberTip from Snap, a social media and instant messaging company. The CyberTip stated that on December 4, 2024, an account associated with Snapchat username “hotrec21” shared a file containing suspected child pornography via Snap’s “chat” function. Snap provided a phone number and email address that were subsequently traced to the defendant. Carrigan is a Level 3 registered sex offender following a previous child sexual abuse conviction in 2004.

In July 2025, investigators executed a search warrant at Carrigan’s residence, seizing electronic evidence, including a cell phone. A forensic analysis of the phone recovered approximately 277 image files and three video files of suspected child pornography. Some of the images included pre-pubescent minors and depictions of violence.

Carrigan made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Colleen D. Holland and was held pending a detention hearing on April 28, 2026.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford. The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.