A Johnson City man has been charged with distributing and possessing child pornography following a federal investigation.
Thomas Murray, 24, was arraigned on June 22 on an indictment charging him with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography for allegedly sharing multiple videos with another unidentified person on a messaging app.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children first received a tip from the company that runs the app regarding Murray’s alleged activity in June 2024, according to the criminal complaint.
The company reported that Murray had distributed “multiple videos of apparent child pornography” to other users on its platform between June 1-11 in 2024. During the investigation, authorities determined the account from which the child sex abuse images were sent matched Murray’s IP address.
New York State Police conducted a state search warrant at Murray’s Johnson City residence on April 4, 2025. He was present at the time of the search and was taken into custody, accused of possessing child sexual abuse images on two different electronic devices.
The next search warrant was conducted by FBI Special Agent Martin Baranski who, according to the criminal complaint, gained access to Murray’s account, confirming it did belong to him and that there was child pornography sent to other users on the application.
Baranski alleges that Murray had sent a user four videos, three of which depict child sexual abuse, and were contained in the initial CyberTip.
If convicted, Murray faces a mandatory minimum term of five years in federal prison on the distribution charges, a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison for the distribution and possession offenses, a fine of up to $250,000 and a mandatory term of supervised release of between five years and life. He would also have to register as a sex offender
Murray’s trial has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 17 in Utica.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Johnson City man accused of sharing child sexual abuse videos
Reporting by Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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By Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin | USA TODAY Network
