BOSTON – A Fall River woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to child sexual exploitation charges.
Nichole Cyr, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Dec. 20, 2022. Cyr was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2020.
“Today, Ms. Cyr admitted to some of the most egregious conduct that my office prosecutes. She sexually victimized two children in her life – one that was only a toddler – captured the abuse on camera, and then shared the horrific material. Ms. Cyr took advantage of these young, innocent children entrusted to her care. For that, this predator is now a convicted felon facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “My office will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to investigate and prosecute those who prey on and sexualize our children.”
“The production of child sexual abuse material immortalizes the horrific act of sexually abusing a child through photos and video, making it even more difficult for survivors to heal from the trauma of abuse. Today’s plea ensures Cyr will face significant time behind bars for her actions,” said Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “The protection of children is one of our greatest and most solemn duties as a law enforcement agency. HSI will continue in our mission to investigate predators like Cyr and bring them to justice before they can do more harm.”
In July 2020, Cyr was arrested for child exploitation offenses after child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including images and videos, were located on her cell phones. Forensic analysis of Cyr’s phones revealed CSAM involving a two-year-old victim and a seven-year-old victim, including videos and photographs that showed Cyr sexually abusing the two-year-old victim on various dates. Forensic analysis also revealed that Cyr had shared the CSAM with another individual. Subsequent investigation determined that the Cyr produced the CSAM of the two minor victims, who she had babysat on multiple occasions.
The charging statute provides for a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Rollins, HSI SAC Millhollin, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, Fall River Police Chief Paul Gauvin and New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Chief of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.