govinfo:USCOURTS-nynd-8_25-cr-00439-0

AO 245B NNY (Rev. 11/25) Judgment in a Criminal Case 
 Sheet 1 
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
 
Northern District of New York 
 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA JUDGMENT IN A CRIMINAL CASE 
v. 
 
Liang Cao 
 
 Case Number: 0206 8:25CR00439-001 
 
USM Number: 13268-511 
 
James C. Knox 
28 Second Street 
Troy, NY 12180 
518-274-5820 
 Defendant’s Attorney 
THE DEFENDANT: 
☒ pleaded guilty to count(s) 1 of the Information on December 5, 2025. 
☐ pleaded nolo contendere to count(s) which was accepted by the court. 
☐ was found guilty on count(s) of the on after a plea of not guilty. 
 
The defendant is adjudicated guilty of these offenses: 
 
Title & Section Nature of Offense Offense Ended Count 
 
 
18 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a)(5)(B) and (b)(2) Possession of Child Pornography 05/03/2024 1 
 
 
 The defendant is sentenced as provided in pages 2 through 8 of this judgment. The sentence is imposed in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 
§ 3553 and the Sentencing Guidelines. 
 
☐ The defendant has been found not guilty on count(s) 
☐ Count(s) ☐ is ☐ are dismissed on the motion of the United States. 
 It is ordered that the defendant must notify the United States Attorney for this district within 30 days of any change of name, residence, 
or mailing address until all fines, restitution, costs, and special assessments imposed by this judgment are fully paid. If ordered to pay restitution, 
the defendant must notify the court and United States attorney of material changes in economic circumstances. 
 
 
June 1, 2026 
Date of Imposition of Judgment 
 
 
June 8, 2026 
Date 

AO 245B NNY (Rev. 11/25) Judgment in a Criminal Case 
 Sheet 2 – Imprisonment 
 Judgment – Page 2 of 8 
DEFENDANT: Liang Cao 
CASE NUMBER: 0206 8:25CR00439-001 
 
 
IMPRISONMENT 
 
The defendant is hereby committed to the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons to be imprisoned for a total term of: 
 
57 months 
 
☐ The court makes the following recommendations to the Bureau of Prisons: 
 
 
☒ The defendant is remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal. 
☐ The defendant shall surrender to the United States Marshal for this district: 
☐ at ☐ a.m. ☐ p.m. on. 
☐ as notified by the United States Marshal. 
☐ The defendant shall surrender for service of sentence at the institution designated by the Bureau of Prisons: 
☐ before 2 p.m. on. 
☐ as notified by the United States Marshal. 
☐ as notified by the Probation or Pretrial Services Office. 
 
RETURN 
 
I have executed this judgment as follows: 
 
 
 
 
 
 Defendant delivered on _________________________________________ to __________________________________________ 
at _________________________________________ with a certified copy of this judgment . 
 
 
UNITED STATES MARSHAL 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHAL 
 

AO 245B NNY (Rev. 11/25) Judgment in a Criminal Case 
 Sheet 3 – Supervised Release 
 Judgment – Page 3 of 8 
DEFENDANT: Liang Cao 
CASE NUMBER: 0206 8:25CR00439-001 
 
SUPERVISED RELEASE 
Upon release from imprisonment, you will be on supervised release for a term of: 
 
5 years 
 
MANDATORY CONDITIONS 
1. You must not commit another federal, state, or local crime. 
2. You must not unlawfully possess a controlled substance. 
3. You must refrain from any unlawful use of a controlled substance . You must submit to one drug test within 15 days of release from 
imprisonment and at least two periodic drug tests thereafter, as determined by the court. 
☐ The above drug testing condition is suspended, based on the court’s determination that you pose a low risk of future substance 
abuse. (check if applicable) 
4. ☒ You must make restitution in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § § 3663 and 3663A or any other statute authorizing a sentence of 
restitution. (check if applicable) 
5. ☒ You must cooperate in the collection of DNA as directed by the probation officer. ( deselect if inapplicable) 
6. ☒ You must comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (34 U.S.C. § 20901, et seq.) as directed 
by the probation officer, the Bureau of Prisons, or any state sex offender registration agency in the location where you resi de, work, are a 
student, or were convicted of a qualifying offense. (check if applicable) 
7. ☐ You must participate in an approved program for domestic violence. (check if applicable) 
 
If this judgment imposes a fine or restitution, it is a condition of supervised release that you pay in accordance with the Schedule of Payments 
sheet of this judgment. 
 
You must comply with the standard conditions that have been adopted by this court as well as with any additional conditions on the attached 
page.

AO 245B NNY (Rev. 11/25) Judgment in a Criminal Case 
 Sheet 3A – Supervised Release 
 Judgment – Page 4 of 8 
DEFENDANT: Liang Cao 
CASE NUMBER: 0206 8:25CR00439-001 
 
 
STANDARD CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION 
As part of your supervised release, you must comply with the following standard conditions of supervision. These conditions are imposed 
because they establish the basic expectations for your behavior while on supervision and identify the minimum tools nee ded by probation 
officers to keep informed, report to the court about, and bring about improvements in your conduct and condition. 
 
1. You must report to the probation office in the federal judicial district where you are authorized to reside within 72 hours of your release 
from imprisonment, unless the probation officer instructs you to report to a different probation office or within a different time frame. 
 
2. After initially reporting to the probation office, you will receive instructions from the court or the probation officer about how and when 
you must report to the probation officer, and you must report to the probation officer as instructed. 
 
3. You must not knowingly leave the federal judicial district where you are authorized to reside without first getting permission from the 
court or the probation officer. 
 
4. You must answer truthfully the questions asked by your probation officer. 
 
5. You must live at a place approved by the probation officer. If you plan to change where you live or anything about your living 
arrangements (such as the people you live with), you must notify the probation officer at least 10 days before the change. If notifying the 
probation officer in advance is not possible due to unanticipated circumstances, you must notify the probation officer within 72 hours of 
becoming aware of a change or expected change. 
 
6. You must allow the probation officer to visit you at any time at your home or elsewhere, and you must permit the probation of ficer to 
take any items prohibited by the conditions of your supervision that he or she observes in plain view. 
 
7. You must work full time (at least 30 hours per week) at a lawful type of employment, unless the probation officer excuses you from 
doing so. If you do not have full-time employment you must try to find full-time employment, unless the probation officer excuses you 
from doing so. If you plan to change where you work or anything about your work (such as your position or your job responsibi lities), 
you must notify the probation officer at least 10 days before the change. If notifying the probation officer at least 10 days in advance is 
not possible due to unanticipated circumstances, you must notify the probation officer within 72 hours of becoming aware of a change or 
expected change. 
 
8. You must not communicate or interact with someone you know is engaged in criminal activity. If you know someone has been 
convicted of a felony, you must not knowingly communicate or interact with that person without first getting the permission of the 
probation officer. 
 
9. If you are arrested or questioned by a law enforcement officer, you must notify the probation officer within 72 hours. 
 
10. You must not own, possess, or have access to a firearm, ammunition, destructive device, or dangerous weapon (i.e., anything t hat was 
designed, or was modified for, the specific purpose of causing bodily injury or death to another person such as nunchakus or tasers). 
 
11. You must not act or make any agreement with a law enforcement agency to act as a confidential human source or informant without first 
getting the permission of the court. 
 
12. If the court determines in consultation with your probation officer that, based on your criminal record, personal history and 
characteristics, and the nature and circumstances of your offense, you pose a risk of committing further crimes against anoth er person 
(including an organization), the probation officer may require you to notify the person about the risk and you must comply wi th that 
instruction. The probation officer may contact the person and confirm that you have notified the person about the risk. 
 
13. You must follow the instructions of the probation officer related to the conditions of supervision. 
 

AO 245B NNY (Rev. 11/25) Judgment in a Criminal Case 
 Sheet 3D – Supervised Release 
 Judgment – Page 5 of 8 
DEFENDANT: Liang Cao 
CASE NUMBER: 0206 8:25CR00439-001 
 
 
SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION 
1. If you are deported or otherwise leave the United States, you must not enter or attempt to enter the United States without th e permission 
of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. If you re -enter the United States, you must report to the probation office in the 
Northern District of New York within 72 hours. 
 
2. You must report to and remain in contact and cooperate with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and you must fulfill 
any requirements of U.S. Immigration Law. 
 
3. You must apply all monies you receive from any income tax refunds, lottery winnings, judgments, and/or any other anticipated or 
unexpected financial gains to the outstanding court-ordered financial obligation. 
 
4. You must participate in a mental health program which may include medical, psychological, or psychiatric evaluation and outpa tient 
treatment as recommended by the treatment provider based upon your risk and needs. You may also be required to participate in inpatient 
treatment upon recommendation of the treatment provider and upon approval of the Court. The probation office must approve the location, 
frequency, and duration of outpatient treatment. You must abide by the rules of the program which may include a medication regime. 
 
5. You must provide the probation officer with access to any requested financial information. 
 
6. You must not have direct contact with any child you know or reasonably should know to be under the age of 18 without the permission of 
the probation officer. If you do have any direct contact with any child you know or reasonably should know to be under the age of 18 
without the permission of the probation officer, you must report this contact to the probation officer within 24 hours. Direct contact includes 
written communication, electronic communication, in -person communication, or physical contact. Direc t contact does not include 
incidental contact during ordinary daily activities in public places. 
 
7. You must not go to, or remain at, any place where you know children under the age of 18 are likely to congregate, including parks, schools, 
playgrounds, and childcare facilities without the permission of the probation officer. 
 
8. You must not go to, or remain at, a place for the primary purpose of observing or contacting children under the age of 18. 
 
9. You must undergo a psychosexual evaluation and, if recommended by the evaluator, you must participate in a mental health trea tment 
program, which may include, but will not be limited to, participation in a sex offense -specific treatment program. The probat ion office 
must approve the location, frequency, and duration of treatment. You must abide by the rules of the program. 
 
10. Your supervision may include examinations using a polygraph, computerized voice stress analyzer, or other similar device to o btain 
information necessary for supervision, case monitoring, and treatment. You must answer the questions posed during the examina tion, 
subject to your right to challenge in a court of law the use of such statements as violations of your Fifth Amendment rights. In this regard, 
you must be deemed to have not waived your Fifth Amendment rights. The results of any examinations must be disclosed to the U.S. 
Probation Office and the Court, but must not be further disclosed without the approval of the Court. 
 
11. You must not use or possess any computer, cell phone, data storage device, cloud storage, or any other internet -capable device (computer 
equipment) unless you participate in the Internet and Computer Management Program (ICMP). When placed in the ICMP, you must 
comply with all the rules of the program and pay any costs associated with the program. The U.S. Probation Office may use and/or install 
any hardware or software system that is needed to monitor your use of computer equipment. You must permit the U.S. Probation Office to 
conduct periodic, unannounced examinations of any computer equipment you use or possess. This equipment may be removed by the U.S. 
Probation Office or their designee for a more thorough examination. You must provide any usernames, pin codes, passwords or other 
credentials used to access any devices or cloud storage you use or possess. Your internet use may be limited and/or restricted in accordance 
with the ICMP based upon an evaluation of your risk and needs, along with consideration of the factors outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). 
Failure to abide by the rules of the ICMP may result in immediate adverse action, to include, but not limited to, revocation of supervision. 
 
12. You must submit your person, and any property, house, residence, vehicle, papers, effects, computer, electronic communications devices, 
and any data storage devices or media, to search at any time, with or without a warrant, by any federal probation office r, or any other law 
enforcement officer from whom the Probation Office has requested assistance, with reasonable suspicion concerning a violation of a 
condition of probation or supervised release or unlawful conduct by you. Any items seized may be removed to the Probation Office or to 
the office of their designee for a more thorough examination. 
 
 
 

AO 245B NNY (Rev. 11/25) Judgment in a Criminal Case 
 Sheet 3D – Supervised Release 
 Judgment – Page 6 of 8 
DEFENDANT: Liang Cao 
CASE NUMBER: 0206 8:25CR00439-001 
 
 
13. You must contribute to the cost of any evaluation, testing, treatment and/or monitoring services rendered in an amount deemed reasonable 
according to the sliding scale copayment schedule approved by the Court and utilized by the U.S. Probation Office. You must also cooperate 
with securing any available third party payments as directed 
 
 
 
 
DEFENDANT’S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF APPLICABLE CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION 
 
Upon a finding of a violation of probation or supervised release, I understand that the court may (1) revoke supervision, (2) extend the term of 
supervision, and/or (3) modify the conditions of supervision. 
 
The conditions of supervision have been read to me. I fully understand the conditions and have been provided a copy of them. For further 
information regarding these conditions, see Overview of Probation and Supervised Release Conditions , available at: www.uscourts.gov. 
 
 
 Defendant Date 
 
 
 U.S. Probation Officer/Designated Witness Date 

AO 245B NNY (Rev. 11/25) Judgment in a Criminal Case 
 Sheet 5 – Criminal Monetary Penalties 
 Judgment – Page 7 of 8 
DEFENDANT: Liang Cao 
CASE NUMBER: 0206 8:25CR00439-001 
 
 
CRIMINAL MONETARY PENALTIES 
 
 The defendant must pay the total criminal monetary penalties under the schedule of payments on Sheet 6. 
 
 Assessment JVTA Assessment* AVAA Assessment** Fine Restitution 
TOTALS $100 Waived Waived Waived TBD 
 
☒ The determination of restitution to payees RedGlassesCry (Taylor) and Flower Lights (Layla) is deferred pending receipt of updated 
victim information. An Amended Judgment in a Criminal Case (AO 245C) will be entered after such determination. 
 
☒ The defendant must make restitution (including community restitution) to the following payees in the amount listed below. 
 
 If the defendant makes a partial payment, each payee shall receive an approximately proportioned payment, unless specified ot herwise in 
the priority order or percentage payment column below. However, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3664(i), all nonfederal victims must be paid 
before the United States is paid. 
 
Name of Payee Total Loss*** Restitution Ordered 
 
 Priority or Percentage 
BluePillow1 (Henley) $5,000 
RedGlassesCry (Taylor) TBD 
ZooFamily1 (Ali) $3,000 
Jenny $3,000 
Flower Lights (Layla) TBD 
Lexie (Aster) $5,000 
MarbleSink (Candice) $5,000 
Tara (Sloane) $5,000 
RCA (Alex) $3,000 
HG1 (Eliza) $3,000 
Totals TBD 
 
☐ Restitution amount ordered pursuant to plea agreement $ 
 
☒ The defendant must pay interest on restitution and a fine of more than $2,500, unless the restitution or fine is paid in full before the 
fifteenth day after the date of the judgment, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3612(f). 
 
☐ The court determined that the defendant does not have the ability to pay interest and it is ordered that: 
 
 ☐ the interest requirement is waived for the ☐ fine ☐ restitution. 
 
 ☐ the interest requirement for the ☐ fine ☐ restitution is modified as follows: 
 
 
 
All of the payment options on Sheet 6 may be subject to penalties for delinquency and default, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3612(g). 
 
 
*Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-22. 
**Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115- 299. 
***Findings for the total amount of losses are required under Chapters 109A, 110, 110A, and 113A of Title 18 for offenses committed on or 
after September 13, 1994, but before April 23, 1996. 

AO 245B NNY (Rev. 11/25) Judgment in a Criminal Case 
 Sheet 6 – Schedule of Payments 
 Judgment – Page 8 of 8 
DEFENDANT: Liang Cao 
CASE NUMBER: 0206 8:25CR00439-001 
 
 
SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS 
 
Having assessed the defendant’s ability to pay, payment of the total criminal monetary penalties is due as follows: 
 
A ☐ In full immediately; or 
 
B ☐ Lump sum payment of $ due immediately; balance due 
 
 ☐ not later than, or 
 
 ☐ in accordance with ☐ D, ☐ E, ☐ F, or ☐ G below; or 
 
C ☒ Payment to begin immediately (may be combined with ☐ D, ☐ E, or ☒ G below); or 
 
D ☐ Payment in equal installments of $ over a period of, to commence after the date of this judgment; or 
 
E ☐ Payment in equal installments of $ over a period of, to commence after release from imprisonment to a term of supervision; or 
 
F ☐ Payment during the term of supervised release will commence within after release from imprisonment. The court will set the 
payment plan based on an assessment of the defendant’s ability to pay at that time; or 
 
G ☒ Special instructions regarding the payment of criminal monetary penalties: 
The Special Assessment is due immediately. Restitution is also due immediately, with any remaining restitution payable at a minimal 
rate of 25% of the defendant’s gross monthly income while incarcerated and a minimal rate of $300 per month or 15% of his gross 
monthly income, whichever is greater, upon his release from imprisonment. If at any time he has the resources to pay full restitution, 
he must do so immediately. 
 
Unless the court has expressly ordered otherwise, if this judgment imposes imprisonment, payment of criminal monetary penalties is due during 
imprisonment. All criminal monetary penalties, except those payments made through the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Financial 
Responsibility Program, are made to Clerk, U.S. District Court, Federal Bldg., 100 S. Clinton Street, P.O. Box 7367, Syracuse, N.Y. 13261-
7367, or to pay electronically, visit www.nynd.uscourts.gov for instructions, unless otherwise directed by the court, the probation officer, or 
the United States attorney. If a victim cannot be located, the restitution paid to the Clerk of the Court for that victim sh all be sent to the 
Treasury, to be retrieved when the victim is located. 
 
The defendant shall receive credit for all payments previously made toward any criminal monetary penalties imposed. 
 
☐ Joint and Several 
 
☐ Defendant and Co-Defendant Names and Case Numbers (including defendant number), Total Amount, Joint and Several Amount, 
and corresponding payee, if appropriate. 
 
 
☐ The Court gives notice that this case involves other defendants who may be held jointly and severally liable for payment of a ll or 
part of the restitution ordered herein and may order such payment in the future. 
 
☐ The defendant shall pay the cost of prosecution. 
 
☐ The defendant shall pay the following court cost(s): 
 
☐ The defendant shall forfeit the defendant’s interest in the following property to the United States: 
 
 
Payments shall be applied in the following order: (1) assessment, (2) restitution principal, (3) restitution interest, (4) AVAA Assessment, (5) 
fine principal, (6) fine interest, (7) community restitution, (8) JVTA Assessment, (9) penalties, and (10) costs, including cost of prosecution 
and court costs. 

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