West Rutland Man Charged with Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material
Andrew Buzzell faces federal charges in an open, undecided criminal case in Vermont, according to official records.
By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 9:15 a.m. ET
Official records from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announce that Andrew Buzzell, 34, of West Rutland, Vermont, was by complaint on August 11, 2026, with distribution of child pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The matter remains open, undecided, and unresolved at the charging stage.
According to court records, Buzzell appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on August 10, 2026, and was ordered released subject to conditions including 24-hour-a-day home incarceration lock-down at his residence. Court documents state that in or around November 2024, Buzzell is alleged to have distributed materials containing CSAM through a free instant messaging mobile application. A Cyber Tip submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) recorded that user account "kinkyvt1231" shared four files via private chat messaging, including one .mp4 video file categorized as apparent child pornography. Law enforcement investigation determined that the IP address and email address submitted with the Cyber Tip are both associated with Buzzell.
In June 2026, an FBI Online Covert Employee (OCE) working within a different application posted a message offering sex that was "Taboo Young." During a conversation with the OCE, Buzzell solicited photos of a supposed nine-year-old girl and made statements discussing specifics of a desired sexual encounter. Open-source information identified Buzzell as an elder at a church in West Rutland, Vermont, and as state director of the Child Evangelism Fellowship of Vermont.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only, that the case has not been resolved, and that Buzzell is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Buzzell faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, with the actual sentence to be determined by the District Court based on the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutory sentencing factors.
Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Arra is prosecuting the matter, and Assistant Federal Public Defender Barclay Johnson represents Buzzell. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the FBI, including the Violent Crimes Against Children Unit, for the investigation, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006.
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