Schenectady County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison Following Undercover Child Exploitation Investigation

ALBANY, NEW YORK — Gary Yorkshire, 69, of Scotia, New York, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his conviction for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor after an undercover child exploitation investigation connected to Operation Restore Justice.

Federal prosecutors stated Yorkshire was sentenced on May 12, 2026, and also received 10 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. In addition to the incarceration sentence, United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci ordered Yorkshire to pay a $5,000 fine and comply with mandatory sex offender registration requirements upon release.

According to federal authorities, Yorkshire admitted during court proceedings that on or about May 1, 2025, he engaged in communications involving the planned sexual abuse of a child he believed to be 12 years old. Investigators stated the communications were conducted with an undercover law enforcement operative during a coordinated child exploitation enforcement operation.

Authorities stated Yorkshire later traveled to a predetermined meeting location where he allegedly provided $250 in cash to an undercover agent with the intent of engaging in what court records described as “regular sex” with the child. Law enforcement personnel arrested Yorkshire shortly after his arrival at the location.

Federal prosecutors stated the case formed part of Operation Restore Justice, an enforcement initiative targeting individuals accused of attempting to exploit or abuse minors through online communication platforms, undercover operations, and internet-based contact methods increasingly used during child exploitation investigations.

First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated that child exploitation prosecutions remain among the highest priorities for federal prosecutors within the Northern District of New York.

“Prosecuting those who prey on our children is amongst the most important work we do at the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Sarcone stated. “This Administration’s commitment to our children via Operation Restore Justice should be a clear message to anyone wishing to engage in nefarious crimes against children, you will be caught and you will face justice.”

Sarcone additionally noted Yorkshire would remain under post-release federal supervision after completing his prison sentence.

Federal investigators stated the operation demonstrated the continued coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies assigned to child exploitation and human trafficking investigations throughout the region.

FBI Albany Special Agent in Charge Craig A. Tremaroli stated the investigation highlighted the effectiveness of the FBI Albany Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and its law enforcement partnerships.

“Operation Restore Justice highlighted the tremendous partnerships on FBI Albany’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force,” Tremaroli stated. “By leveraging those partnerships, we removed eight dangerous predators from our communities in just five days.”

Authorities stated the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force led the investigation alongside participating federal, state, and local agencies, including the New York State Police.

Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Paulbeck and A.J. Vickey prosecuted the case under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative.

Federal officials describe Project Safe Childhood as a nationwide enforcement and prevention program focused on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting individuals accused of exploiting minors through internet-based communication systems, online platforms, digital messaging applications, and related technologies used to facilitate child exploitation offenses.

The initiative combines resources from United States Attorneys’ Offices, the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, federal investigative agencies, state police units, and local law enforcement departments to target online child exploitation activity, recover victims, and pursue long-term criminal prosecution efforts against offenders operating through digital environments.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

🔥 NOW AVAILABLE! 🔥

‎👉 Eclipsera – Apple Music

---

---

---

---

---