BUFFALO, N.Y. — Seven men from Western New York have been arrested following an an undercover joint investigation by several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
The FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, Cheektowaga Police Department, Town of Hamburg Police Department and New York State Police launched an investigation to identify adults who attempt to sexually exploit children.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office says the seven men arrested allegedly contacted — through social media — individuals whom they believed to be teens.
Howard Stives Jr., 47, of Westport is charged with one count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the second degree and one count of Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the first degree. Stives is accused of traveling to the Town of Cheektowaga in September to attempt to engage in sexual conduct with a person believed to be a 14-year-old male.
Kevin Piechowicz, 37, of Buffalo was arraigned in Cheektowaga Town Court on one count of Attempted Rape in the second degree, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree. Investigators say Piechowicz allegedly traveled to Cheektowaga September 25 in an attempt to have sex with a person whom he believed was a 14-year-old female. He was also allegedly found in possession of a small amount of cocaine.
Nicholas Sabha, 29, of Lewiston is accused of allegedly attempting to engage in sexual conduct with a person whom he believed to be a 14-year-old female. He is charged with one count of Attempted Rape in the second degree, one count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the second degree, and one count of Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the first degree.
Nicholas Shepard, 25, of Springville was arraigned in court on one count of Attempted Rape in the second degree, one count of Attempted Disseminating Indecent Material to Minors in the first degree, and one count of Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Investigator say Shepard allegedly traveled to a location in Cheektowaga to attempt to have sex with a person whom he believed to be a 14-year-old female.
Richard Zloty, 69, of Orchard Park is accused of traveling to Hamburg to attempt to engage in sexual conduct with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old female. He was arraigned in court on one count of Attempted Rape in the second degree and one count of Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the second degree.
Anthony Aronica, 29, of West Seneca is accused of attempting to engage in sexual intercourse with a person he believed was a 14-year-old female. He is charged with one count of Attempted Rape in the second degree.
Kristopher Smoyer, 36, of Amherst was arraigned on one count of Attempted Rape in the second degree. Smoyer is accused of attempting to engage in sexual intercourse with a person whom he believed was a 14-year-old female.
“I want the residents of Erie County to know that my office, along with our federal, state and local partners in law enforcement, is committed to protecting our children," said Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn in a statement. "We will continue to work to identify these predators and they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I also want encourage parents to be vigilant about the dangers of adults illegally soliciting children on the internet and to monitor communications received by their children on social media.”