Jefferson Valley Sex Offender Faces Federal Charges

The Jefferson Valley man, accused of  and in Putnam County and Yorktown, faces additional federal charges. 

, 37, is a convicted sex offender, who appeared in federal court in White Plains on Wednesday and was detained without bail. He is also known as Jon Dulak. 

"As alleged, this case underlines the urgent need for law enforcement to continue its efforts to protect children from those who prey on them over the Internet and endanger them," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement. 

DeLaura has been accused of sending obscene material to a 15-year-old boy through an Internet chat site. Bharara said they will use "every tool available to law enforcement to prosecute and punish those who allegedly possess and distribute child pornography.”

The following allegations are based on the complaint, which was filed last week in White Plains federal court: 

• On Oct. 7, 2009, DeLaura plead guilty in Bronx County Court to sexual misconduct. His victim was a 12-year-old boy. He was sentenced on Dec. 16, 2009 to six years of probation and registered with the New York State Sex Offender Registry. 
• From May 5, 2011, through May 10, 2011, DeLaura allegedly distributed files containing images and videos of child pornography over the Internet via a Peer ­to-Peer networking program.
• In Nov. 2011, DeLaura contacted a 15-year-old boy in an Internet chat room using the screen name “sillyrabbit” and claimed to be a 17-year-old girl. After an exchange of messages, DeLaura allegedly sent two obscene photographs to the victim. 
• On Feb. 2, 2012, DeLaura was . After DeLaura was arrested, officers executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered an iPod, which contained approximately 162 videos containing images of child pornography and approximately 5 still photos of images containing child pornography. The iPod also contained photographs of DeLaura as well as the two obscene photographs that were sent to the victim.

"Sex offender laws are meant to protect children from being repeatedly victimized by individuals like Jonathan DeLaura," Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge James T. Hayes, Jr. said. "The production, transmission and possession of images of children are as exploitative as physical abuse itself, HSI is strongly committed to seeking out sexual predators who jeopardize the safety and Well-being of our youth."

If convicted, DeLaura faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison for distributing child pornography via the Internet. He also faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography; and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for transferring obscene material to a minor.

DeLaura also faces an additional minimum sentence of 10 years in prison for transferring obscene material to a minor while he was registered as a sex offender. 

Bharara said he praised the efforts of ICE HSI, the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, the , the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office in connection to the investigation. 

The prosecution is being handled by the White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney Margery B. Feinzig is in charge of the prosecution. 

Any individual with relevant information on suspected child predators or any related suspicious activity is encouraged to contact Homeland Security Investigations in Castle Point at 845-831-1576.