U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha | U.S. Department of Justice
A Pawtucket resident, Eugenio Lopes Gomes, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for possessing child pornography. The United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced the sentencing following the discovery of over 17,000 images and numerous videos on Gomes' electronic devices.
The case began in August 2023 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted law enforcement about a phone number linked to uploading child pornography. This number was traced back to Gomes, age 47. A subsequent court-authorized search revealed approximately 17,000 images and 144 videos depicting explicit material involving children aged one to twelve.
Gomes entered a guilty plea on September 24, 2024, to possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. handed down a sentence of 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse across the nation. It involves collaboration between U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section alongside federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
Assistant United States Attorney Julienne Kline led the prosecution with support from Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter I. Roklan. The Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force along with Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
