Former West Point Staff Sergeant Sentenced To 42 Months In Prison For Possession Of Child Pornography

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that PATRICK EDWIN GORYCHKA was sentenced to 42 months in prison by United States District Judge Kenneth M. Karas for his possession of child pornography.  The sentencing today followed GORYCHKA’s guilty plea on May 23, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The availability of child pornography spread through chatrooms and discreet websites is every modern parent’s worst nightmare.  This Office will continue to prioritize protecting our most vulnerable citizens, children, from this kind of exploitation.”

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:

In October 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) received information from an FBI Online Undercover Employee (“UC-1”) concerning UC-1’s communications with an individual using the Kik username “epg84,” who was later identified as GORYCHKA, in a Kik chat room known to be frequented by individuals with a sexual interest in children.  UC-1 identified himself as a 48-year-old uncle who had engaged in sex acts with his niece.  GORYCHKA, who identified himself as “Eric G.,” asked UC-1 for photos of UC-1’s niece.  UC-1 told GORYCHKA that UC-1 had met a “pedo mom” (“UC-2”) in New York.  UC-1 told GORYCHKA that “she keeps kids of illegals while they work for a couple weeks” and “makes some $ on the side.”  GORYCHKA stated, “Omg that’s hot” and asked UC-1 to connect him to UC-2.   

Thereafter, UC-2, going by the name “Jane,” and GORYCHKA engaged in numerous communications from in or about October 31, 2019, through in or about November 16, 2019.  During these communications, GORYCHKA said he was interested in “preteens” and told UC-2, “I heard that you could potentially facilitate certain things.”  GORYCHKA said that he was interested in a “similar setup” as UC-1 and told UC-2, “I have money.” 

On November 2, 2019, GORYCHKA transmitted two links to Mega, a New Zealand-based cloud storage platform that permits users to store and share electronically stored information, including images and videos.[1]  Both links contained numerous images and videos of children engaging in sexually explicit activity.

In imposing the sentence, Judge Karas underscored, “The possession of child pornography feeds a business that exploits the most vulnerable in our society.”

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In addition to the prison term, Judge Karas sentenced GORYCHKA, 40, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to five years of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the FBI, West Point’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Town of New Windsor Police Department in connection with this investigation. 

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.