A substitute teacher and coach at a Cheektowaga high school has been charged with possession of child pornography.
The Cheektowaga-Sloan school district reacted by barring Steven Gasiorek, 33, from buildings and is considering further action. He was arrested in a probe which began in Virginia.
Prosecutors say Gasoirek had been posing online as a teenage girl from California and exchanging porn on Instagram with unnamed young males. Investigators say it may have been going on for some time. The case developed when a sheriff's department in Virginia raised questions to the FBI about communications with the Instagram account.
Law enforcers say they have compromising photos that some of the youths sent to the teacher in exchange for images of nude young girls. The criminal information filed in the cases has graphic descriptions of some of those photographs.
At a news conference Tuesday, U.S. Attorney James Kennedy said it's in the best interest of other young people to come forward.
"There has been much evidence seized in this case. There's going to be pictures and so, I think, it would be in their best interests maybe to come forward so as to be able to do so on their own terms as opposed to maybe having law enforcement show up at their doors and ask them some embarrassing questions," Kennedy said.
"It's unfortunate. There is a stigma attached to this sort of thing. But, as I said, they've been duped and although they may have made bad decisions in the past, I'm urging them not to compound them by remaining silent and I ask them to come forward."
Cheektowaga police went to John F. Kennedy High School Tuesday to report the arrest and the circumstances of the case. Gasiorek made an initial appearance before a federal judge Tuesday and is being released on unspecified conditions. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
"Children attending our schools, playing on our sports teams, and communicating in our homes are at risk of becoming victims of child exploitation. Talk to your kids about this case. Every young person has a cell phone, a laptop, gaming system or other device that makes them vulnerable to this crime," added FBI Special Agent in Charge Gary Loeffert.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call the Buffalo FBI at 843-1616.
