Leonard O’Neill Possessed 15,000 Images And 2,430 Videos Depicting Child Pornography
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Leonard O’Neill, 58, of Warwick, R.I., was sentenced today to 36 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, and Cheryl DiPrizio, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office of the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi ordered O’Neill to serve 10 years supervised release upon completion of his prison term. O’Neill pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2013.
According to information presented to the court, in May 2012, members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force were conducting an on-line Internet investigation of file-sharing networks to identify users possessing and sharing child pornography. On May 21, 2012, a Special Agent from NCIS assigned to the ICAC task force observed 235 files of child pornography being shared from an IP address in Warwick, R.I. The agent made a direct connection to the IP address and downloaded two image files and two zip files containing dozens of images of child pornography. The IP address was later identified as belonging to the defendant.
According to information presented to the court, on Nov. 28, 2012, federal, state and local law enforcement members of the ICAC task force executed a court authorized search of the defendant’s Warwick residence and seized a laptop computer, two desktop computers, a video camera and two external hard drives. A forensic analysis of the computers and hard drives revealed 15,000 images and 2,430 videos depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts with adult males, including images involving infants, bondage and bestiality. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is attempting to determine the identity of the victims.
Leonard, who was not at home at the time his residence was searched, was arrested a short time later by members of the ICAC task force at his place of employment.
Leonard, who was released to home confinement on $50,000 secured bond following his arraignment in federal court on July 11, 2013, wasordered to self-surrender by March 20, 2014, to begin serving his term of imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.
The Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force actively engages in investigative efforts to identify subjects involved in child exploitation-related activities. The Rhode Island ICAC Task Force Program, funded by the Department of Justice, is administered by the Rhode Island State Police and supports a national network of multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task forces engaged in investigations, forensic examinations, and prosecutions related to Internet crimes against children and technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation.
The Rhode Island ICAC task force is comprised of members of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit along with detectives from the Bristol, Coventry, Jamestown, Middletown, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments, and agents from Homeland Security Investigations, United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service and United States Postal Inspection Services
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
