A federal grand jury has indicted a Cheektowaga substitute teacher and coach on 18 counts, including production and receipt of child pornography. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Steven Gasiorek, 33, posed as a teenage girl from California on Instragram with the user name LEXIGURL1015 and engaged in an online relationship with a 14-year-old Virginia boy. Prosecutors say the boy sent Gasiorek pornographic images of himself, thinking he was communicating with the fictional girl.
Authorities searched Gasiorek's Lehigh Street residence and seized a laptop and an external hard drive that contained numerous images of child pornography. It is believed he has been enticing minors for several years. The indictment also alleges that in February of this year, Gasiorek coerced six minors to engage in sexual activity for the purpose of producing child porn.
Gasiorek worked at John F. Kennedy Middle and High schools. He was arraigned Tuesday morning and has been released on conditions. If convicted, he could face life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Anyone with information relating to the case is asked to contact the FBI at 843-1616.
