A Catholic priest who has been on permanent leave from ministry since 2019 has been arrested and charged in federal court with receiving and possessing child pornography, according to federal prosecutors.
According to EWTN News, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York announced on July 8 that Father Jeffrey Nowak of Lackawanna, New York, was taken into custody on federal charges of receipt and possession of child pornography.
Federal prosecutors said the charges carry “a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.”
The arrest follows years of prior investigations involving the priest. According to EWTN News, Nowak was first placed on administrative leave in 2019 after a seminarian reported that he had been sexually harassed by the priest. Federal authorities also said Nowak had been the subject of allegations involving inappropriate contact with children and that investigators linked him to an email address reportedly associated with child sexual abuse material. An earlier FBI investigation was eventually closed.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI reopened its investigation in March 2026. Investigators executed a search warrant at Nowak’s residence on July 8 and reported finding child pornography on electronic devices seized during the search.
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo condemned the alleged crimes, stating that Nowak “hid behind a keyboard and took part in the tragic exploitation of one of society’s most vulnerable populations, our children.”
“Nowak has now been exposed and can no longer hide and will be held accountable for his disgraceful behavior,” DiGiacomo said, according to EWTN News.
The Diocese of Buffalo said it learned of the federal allegations after the arrest. In a statement cited by EWTN News, a diocesan spokesman said Nowak “was placed on permanent leave in 2019 and has not been permitted to function as a priest since then.”
The diocese also said it was not aware of any prior attempt by law enforcement to contact diocesan officials regarding the new allegations and pledged to cooperate fully with investigators. “We are not aware of any attempt by law enforcement officials to contact the diocese regarding these allegations,” the statement said. It added that the Diocese of Buffalo “has just learned of the allegations against him and will cooperate fully with any inquiry by law enforcement officials.”
The federal charges are allegations, and the case will proceed through the U.S. court system. As with all criminal defendants, Nowak is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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