Onondaga County man pleads guilty in federal court after admitting to possession of illegal child exploitation material

Albany, New York – Federal prosecutors announced last week that a Syracuse man has admitted to possessing thousands of illegal files depicting the sexual exploitation of children, ending a case that investigators say shows the dangers of repeat offenders and the importance of coordinated law-enforcement work. The plea, entered in federal court in Albany, marks the latest development in a long and troubling pattern of behavior by 31-year-old Kurt Dobler.

According to Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Dobler pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography after federal agents discovered the material earlier this year while he was already on probation for a similar offense. Sarcone, joined by Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Buffalo, stated that the plea reflects an extensive investigation led by several local, state, and federal agencies.

Court documents outline that Dobler was previously convicted in February 2023 in Fulton County Court for possessing a sexual performance by a child, a state charge that resulted in a 10-year probation sentence. Authorities say that probation should have served as a warning, but instead, Dobler continued engaging in the same conduct. As part of his federal guilty plea, he admitted that in May 2025, while still under state supervision, he knowingly kept thousands of illegal images and videos on his cellphone, including files involving very young victims. Prosecutors stress that the federal case does not rely on descriptions of the material but centers on its sheer volume and the violation of probation terms.

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At his federal sentencing, scheduled for March 31, 2026, Dobler faces a much harsher outcome than he received at the state level. Prosecutors explained that federal law mandates a minimum of 10 years in prison and allows up to a 20-year maximum sentence. In addition to prison time, he will face at least five years of supervised release, potential restitution payments to the victims, forfeiture of the cellphone he used to commit the offense, fines, special assessments, and mandatory registration as a sex offender upon release. The final sentence will be determined by a federal judge, who must weigh the United States Sentencing Guidelines along with other case-specific factors.

Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone issued a sharp statement regarding the case, emphasizing the seriousness of repeat offenses and the role of federal prosecution:

“The defendant was completely undeterred from this heinous conduct despite a prior State conviction for doing the same thing, presumably because he received a slap-on-the-wrist probationary sentence. Now he will be spending at least a decade in jail. That’s the power of federal law enforcement, and my Office won’t hesitate to use it on repeat sex offenders like this defendant.”

HSI leadership also responded publicly. Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan described the case as a painful example of the work her agency undertakes to protect children and dismantle networks of exploitation.

“Kurt Dobler’s guilty plea is a stark reminder of the depravity that HSI works tirelessly to confront in defense of our children,” Keegan said. “The defendant’s admitted actions are nothing short of monstrous and have no place in a civilized society. I commend the unyielding determination of HSI Syracuse personnel and our law enforcement partners in ensuring this predator is held accountable and justice is delivered for the innocent victims.”

Investigators say the case required extensive cooperation among multiple agencies. Homeland Security Investigations led the federal effort, working closely with the New York State Police and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. United States Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection also provided support during searches tied to the investigation. Officials say that such collaboration is crucial when dealing with digital evidence that can cross jurisdictions quickly.

Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case under Project Safe Childhood, a national program that targets crimes involving the exploitation of minors. Launched by the U.S. Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood connects federal prosecutors, state and local police, and child-protection specialists to strengthen the identification and prosecution of offenders. The initiative also works to locate and rescue victims whose images may be circulating online.

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Federal officials describe Project Safe Childhood as a response to the rapid growth of online crimes against children. The program focuses on tracking offenders across platforms, supporting victims, and ensuring that cases involving minors receive the highest priority. More information about the initiative is available at https://www.justice.gov/psc.

For now, Dobler remains in federal custody as he awaits his March sentencing date. Prosecutors say the case illustrates the way federal penalties can escalate when an offender continues illegal behavior after a previous conviction. While the judge will ultimately determine the final sentence, officials say the mandatory minimum ensures that this time, the consequences will be far more serious.