CAMDEN, N.J. – A Massachusetts man was convicted today by a federal jury of five child pornography offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.
William H. Noble, 56, of Lowell, Massachusetts, was convicted of conspiring to receive and distribute child pornography, receiving child pornography, distributing child pornography, possessing child pornography, and accessing with intent o view child pornography on federal property following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
Between Nov. 1, 2016, and April 26, 2017, while an inmate at FCI-Fort Dix, Noble participated in a conspiracy with other inmates to receive and distribute images of child sexual abuse. Noble was serving an 81-month sentence following his guilty plea in the District of Massachusetts to transportation and possession of child pornography. He was scheduled to be released on March 8, 2018.
While in prison, Noble and his conspirators accessed images of child sexual abuse on the “dark web” using cell phones that had been smuggled into the prison. They then stored the images on micro SD cards, which they shared amongst the conspirators.
On April 19, 2017, Noble transferred a micro SD card containing over 2,400 images and nearly 100 videos of child sexual abuse to a government informant. Many of the images and videos depicted the sexual abuse of prepubescent children, including infants and toddlers. At the time of the transfer, Noble was recorded describing the child sexual abuse images and videos to the informant. Noble’s conspirators were also recorded describing Noble’s role and conduct in furtherance of the conspiracy. When Noble was arrested on Feb. 5, 2018, he confessed to the FBI.
Due to the defendant’s prior convictions, the counts of receiving and distributing child pornography and conspiring to receive and distribute child pornography are each punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The counts of possessing and accessing child pornography on federal property each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2022, before Judge Rodriguez.
The charges against Noble stem from a long-term investigation by the FBI, which led to similar charges against seven other FCI-Fort Dix inmates. All of the other defendants have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme.
Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr, with the investigation leading to today’s verdict. She also thanked officials of the Bureau of Prisons and FCI-Fort Dix for their assistance with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew B. Johns and David E. Malagold of the Criminal Division.
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