PROVIDENCE, R.I. – An East Greenwich man today admitted to a federal court judge that he possessed videos and images of child pornography he accessed from Dark Web sites and forums, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
John D. McIntyre, 32, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
According to charging documents, Homeland Security Investigations, working with the FBI and a foreign law enforcement agency, learned that an IP address associated with McIntyre’s residence had had accessed a known Dark Web site that facilitated the sharing of child sexual abuse and exploitation material. A court-authorized search of the defendant’s residence was executed on March 17, 2021, during which several computers and hard drives were discovered in the defendant’s bedroom. An onsite forensic preview of a laptop belonging to McIntyre revealed several videos of child pornography, to include juvenile males engaged in sexual acts with other juvenile males. A subsequent forensic review of the devices revealed additional videos and images depicting child sexual abuse.
At the time of his guilty plea, McIntyre admitted to the court that he accessed the Dark Web to view child pornography two to three times a week for the at least the previous six years.
McIntyre is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., on July 12, 2022.
Possession of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and lifetime federal supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
###