Church Elder accused of sending child porn through messenger app
By Michael Cusanelli
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WEST RUTLAND, Vermont (WPTZ) — A West Rutland church elder has been accused of distributing child pornography, according to federal prosecutors.
The United States District Attorney’s Office of Vermont said Andrew Buzzell, 34, of West Rutland, was charged earlier this month with distribution of child pornography.
Court documents obtained by NBC5 show that Buzzell used the instant messaging app Kik to share child porn with users in November 2024.
According to those documents, Buzzell is “an elder at the Green Mountain Baptist Church and State Director at the Child Evangelism Fellowship.”
Police said Buzzell admitted to them that he used several usernames on the Kik app that were being investigated to distribute the pornographic images and video. He also allegedly admitted to having a conversation with an undercover FBI agent to discuss traveling to have sex with a 10-year-old minor.
Buzzell appeared in federal court on Aug 10 to answer the charge of distributing child sexual abuse material. He was ordered to be released on 24-hour home incarceration.
If found guilty, Buzzell faces up to 20 years in prison.
In a statement shared with NBC5 on Monday, a spokesperson from the Child Evangelism Fellowship said Buzzell has been terminated.
“CEF has zero tolerance for such misconduct and is fully cooperating with law enforcement,” they wrote. “Due to any future legal proceedings, no further information can be provided at this time.”
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