On December 1, 2025, Gary Ethier of Pawtucket pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Ethier, age 60, admitted to knowingly accessing, possessing, and distributing child pornography. Sentencing is scheduled for March 5, 2026. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
Court documents state that in November 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Center received information indicating that Ethier discussed the sexual exploitation of minors online with another person and sent them multiple images of child pornography. On December 2, 2024, HSI agents and members of the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force searched Ethier’s home. During the search, law enforcement found more than 600 images depicting child pornography on his electronic devices.
Assistant United States Attorney Peter Roklan is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by HSI and the ICAC Task Force.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to find and prosecute those who exploit children as well as identify victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc
Reports of suspected online child sexual exploitation or abuse can be made by calling the Know2Project Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or through the NCMEC CyberTipline at https://report.cybertip.org/
