ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Matthew Ryan O’Connell, 31, of Wildwood, was sentenced to 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry for his involvement in possessing and transporting child pornography. O’Connell is also mandated to pay a restitution of $10,000 to a victim featured in the child sexual abuse material he had in his possession.
The case began in 2020 when a St. Louis County Police Department sergeant, probing the distribution of child pornography via online and cell phone apps, was contacted by O’Connell on the “Grindr” app. O’Connell expressed his interest in young boys and mentioned his collection of child abuse material, subsequently sending images containing such content through the Kik and Wickr apps.
Further investigation was prompted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which alerted the St. Louis County Police Department of child abuse images being circulated via Snapchat. These materials were tracked down to O’Connell. When the search warrant was executed, authorities discovered child sexual abuse content across two of O’Connell’s cell phones and a laptop, which he had concealed under a treadmill upon the arrival of law enforcement officers.
O’Connell admitted guilt in May, pleading guilty to a felony count each of transportation and possession of child pornography. The transportation charge inherently holds a minimum prison term of five years.
The case saw the collaborative efforts of the St. Louis County Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Costantin.