Tonawanda man pleads guilty to production of child pornography

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Tonawanda man has pleaded guilty to the production of child pornography, the United States Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Officials said between October 20 and Nov. 1, 2021, Michael Swain, 36, coerced five minor victims, including a 15-year-old female from Colorado, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions.

Using the social media platform Discord, Swain communicated with the 15-year-old girl, which included sexually graphic conversations, according to the attorney's office.

Officials said Swain engaged in numerous sexual communications with the minor from around 2019 to 2022, during which the minor sent him sexually explicit images and videos after he asked her to take them.

On Feb. 28, 2023, the FBI conducted a search warrant at Swain's residence where they seized a desktop computer tower, a laptop and an external hard drive, which all contained child pornography, officials said.

The production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years and a $250,000 fine.

Swain's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 4.