Albany, New York – In a significant legal decision, Michael Cardwell, a 40-year-old resident of Rensselaer County, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison followed by 25 years of supervised release for the sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This case, prosecuted under the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, underscores law enforcement’s unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable children.
Cardwell admitted to abusing a 7-year-old girl over several months between 2023 and early 2024. He also created explicit images of his victim and possessed a disturbing collection of approximately 1,000 CSAM files obtained online.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci ordered him to pay $30,000 in restitution to victims and mandated the forfeiture of property used in his offenses. Upon his release, Cardwell will be required to register as a sex offender.
Justice for Victims
U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III emphasized the gravity of the sentence, stating, “The sentence today reflects the egregiousness of Cardwell’s conduct and ensures the public will be protected against future crimes by him for decades to come.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig A. Tremaroli reaffirmed the FBI’s commitment to holding offenders accountable, remarking, “This sentence reinforces the message that the victimization of innocent children will not be tolerated by law enforcement.”
A Coordinated Effort
The case was diligently investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the New York State Police, and the Troy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the case under Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative dedicated to combating the rise of child exploitation and abuse.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc.
