Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A Clarence Center soccer trainer is accused of exchanging naked photos with two minors associated with an elite soccer team she worked for.
Shelby Garigen, 41, of Clarence Center, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with receipt of child pornography and access with intent to view child pornography. Federal prosecutors say a parent contacted an Assistant District Attorney in Monroe County, NY, and advised that the defendant had inappropriate chats via Snapchat with his 17-year-old son. Garigen had served as athletic trainer on the 17 year old's soccer team up until approximately one month prior, and had been associated with the soccer program for approximately the past 12 years.
Prosecutors say Garigen and the teen had communicated via Snapchat between November 2018 and February 2019. Prosecutors say the conversation turned sexual about a week or two after the defendant and the teen began chatting with Garigen sending the teen a picture of her breasts. After sending the picture, Garigen requested the teen send a naked picture. Thereafter, the two began exchanging sexually explicit photos of themselves to one another over Snapchat. All told, Garigen requested that the teen send her nude pictures on approximately 8 or 9 occasions, while she sent 7 or 8 nude pictures of herself.
Prosecutors add an undercover investigator assumed the online identity of the teen, and re-engaged with Garigen on Snapchat. Thereafter, Garigen engaged in sexually explicit conversation and sent videos of her engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Eventually, arrangements were made for Garigen to meet with the teen so that the two could engage sexual activity. On June 14, 2019, investigators say Garigen arrived at the designated location in order to pick-up the teen so that they could return to her house to engage in sexual activity. At that time, a federal search warrant was executed to seize and search Garigen’s phone.
The investigation also determined Garigen exchanged nude pictures with a second 17-year-old male (Victim 2), who was also associated with the elite soccer team.
“While this case is somewhat unusual in that the defendant is a woman,” U.S. Attorney Kennedy observed, “it is familiar in the sense that defendant used two of the most frequent and common methods that child predators use in order to gain access to children. The first is the internet, and the second is occupying a position of authority and trust in the child’s life. Parents should be coaching their kids on how to defend themselves from these sorts of predators.”
“The exploitation of children is so prevalent in this country-and around the world-that the FBI and our law enforcement partners have full time task forces to attack this crime problem,” said FBI Buffalo Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert. “That is a terrible reality. We often remind parents to talk to their children about the dangers of meeting strangers online. But more and more often, we are seeing children victimized by adults who have been placed in positions of trust. And youth-sports programs, like all youth-serving organizations, give adults incredible access to our children.”
The defendant made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was released on conditions, including no employment with any youth related sports program, no contact with minors, restrictions on the use of electronic devices, and electronic monitoring.
Any parent or member of the public who has information related to this case are asked to call the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 716-843-1616.