FEDS: Abusive youth pastor receives seven years in prison after crimes in Darien Lake

From the US Attorney

BUFFALO, NY – United States Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Nathan L. Rogers, 40, of East Aurora, NY, who was convicted of attempted receipt of child pornography, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to 84 months in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who handled the case, stated that in July 2019, Rogers, a church youth pastor, installed iPhones in his RV at Darien Lake Park in Genesee County, NY to secretly record nude images of an underage victim for his own sexual gratification. Shortly after installing the phones, Rogers asked the underage victim to remove her swimsuit in his RV. She complied, and while she was changing, the iPhones recorded nude images. After changing, the underage victim noticed the phones were recording her, attempted to delete the videos, and then reported the incident to authorities. Law enforcement officers arrested and questioned Rogers. Nude images of the underage victim were subsequently found on the phones.

The verdict is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia and the Genesee County Sheriff's Office under the direction of Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr.

Former felon arrested on new child pornography charges

BUFFALO, NY – United States Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Cameron Gelsomino, 22, of Burt, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography involving a minor prepubescent youth, following a previous conviction of possession of child pornography, which carries a minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Gelsomino was sentenced in October 2023 to 30 days incarceration and 10 years of probation after being convicted in Niagara District Court of possession of obscene sexual conduct involving a child. Gelsomino was also classified as a Level 2 sex offender and placed on the New York State Sex Offender Registry. On May 9, 2024, Niagara County probation officers conducted a routine visit to Gelsomino's residence, during which they discovered that he was in possession of a cellphone that he did not have permission to possess. A preliminary review of the phone showed that Gelsomino was active on social media, including asking another Discord user, “Do you have any CP links?” Gelsomino and the other user subsequently discussed the age and cost of purchasing child pornography. Further inspection of the phone revealed approximately 56 image files and two video files containing child pornography.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, led by Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino, and the Niagara County Probation Department, led by Director Deborah M. LaRock.

The fact that a defendant is accused of a crime constitutes merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.