Albany man indicted for distributing child sex abuse images

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man has been indicted on charges of distributing and possessing child sex abuse images, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Taykwun Smoaks, 32, was arrested last April by state police.

The indictment alleges that Smoaks distributed and received images and videos over the internet that depicted child sex abuse between February and March of 2023. He is also accused of allegedly possessing such images on his computer and external hard drive on April 5, 2023.

Smoaks faces five to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 and a post-release term of supervision of five years and up to life. He will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release, and may be ordered to pay restitution to the victims, as well as forfeit the devices used in the crimes.

Smoaks was arraigned on April 12 and detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for April 16.