Grand Jury Indicts Williamsville Man On Multiple Charges Of Production And Possession Of Child Pornography And Enticement Of A Minor

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Michael Regan, 39, of Williamsville, NY, with production and possession of child pornography, and enticement of a minor. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, on December 2, 2020, the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force was contacted by the Buffalo Police Department, which believed that the defendant was engaged in a sexual conversation with a 13 year-old-girl (Victim) through social media. Regan, a former corrections officer who identified himself as “Jason,” and the Victim met over Snapchat in late July and continued to chat over the next several weeks on social media. The chats were often sexual in nature with the defendant requesting that the victim send him sexually explicit photographs and videos. As the conversations progressed, Regan made plans to meet the Victim for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. In August, Regan met the Minor Victim and engaged in sexual contact.  At one point, the defendant claimed to be a Cheektowaga Police Officer. In addition, investigators uncovered sexually explicit photographs of an additional Victim, who was an infant, produced by Regan, on the defendant’s cell phone.  

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.

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.