Joseph Gallo, an 80-year-old resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero and delivered by United States District Court Judge Juan R. Sanchez. In addition to the prison term, Gallo received five years of supervised release and is required to pay $12,750 in restitution along with $10,000 in special assessments.

Gallo was charged in March of last year as a second-time offender for possessing child pornography. He pleaded guilty in July, admitting to accumulating over 18,000 images depicting the sexual abuse and exploitation of children over more than three years.

At the time of these offenses, Gallo was already a registered sex offender under Megan’s Law. He was undergoing court-ordered sex offender treatment and serving supervised county probation following his 2015 prosecution in Bucks County for similar crimes.

“Gallo learned nothing from his first conviction and again started seeking out those abhorrent images,” stated U.S. Attorney Romero. “Consumers of child pornography like him perpetuate the exploitation and trauma of innocent victims, which my office, HSI, and our partners simply won’t abide. We’ll continue to hold accountable collectors of child sexual abuse material because protecting kids everywhere is paramount.”

The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. This initiative involves collaboration among federal, state, and local resources to apprehend individuals exploiting children via the internet and rescue victims.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations alongside the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella is prosecuting the case.