Department of Justice

United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian

Northern District of New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, March 19, 2016
www.justice.gov/usao-ndny

CONTACT:

AUSA Richard Southwick

PHONE:

(315) 448-0672

TWO ARRESTED FOR CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Charges Against Liverpool, NY Man and Syracuse, NY Woman Involve 16 Month Old Infant
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK Jason Kopp,40, of Liverpool, New York and Emily Oberst, 23, of
Syracuse, New York were arrested yesterday and charged with sexual exploitation of a child by
making pornographic images and distribution of child pornography involving a 16 month old
infant, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian.
As alleged in the criminal complaint filed today, both defendants were arrested by Special
Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) following the execution of search
warrants and the seizure of evidence from their residences in Syracuse and Liverpool last night
and early this morning.
The charges filed against Kopp and Oberst for sexual exploitation of a child by making
pornographic images carry a minimum sentence of fifteen years and a maximum sentence of
thirty years imprisonment. The charges for distribution of child pornography carry a minimum
sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment. Each charge
provides for a fine of up to $250,000.
Kopp and Oberst appeared today in Syracuse, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge
Andrew T. Baxter and were detained without bail pending further court proceedings.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until
proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by FBI Albany Division (Syracuse Resident Agency), and the
District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department-Federal Bureau of Investigation (MPDFBI) Child Exploitation Task Force (Washington Field Office), and is being prosecuted by
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United
States Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section
(CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate,
apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify
and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit
www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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