Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Provincetown resident, Laurence Pagnoni, 65, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. The plea was entered before U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young, who set sentencing for May 12, 2026. Pagnoni was initially arrested and charged in April 2024.
According to court documents, law enforcement began investigating after a person arrested during a child exploitation operation informed authorities that Pagnoni had distributed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through the online platform Mega in March 2023. Authorities determined that Pagnoni sent thousands of CSAM files to this individual.
A search conducted at Pagnoni’s home in Provincetown in May 2023 led to the seizure of several items, including his cellphone. Investigators found several thousand images and videos containing CSAM on the device. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified at least 51 known series among these files.
The public can contact authorities with questions or information about the case by calling 617-748-3274.
Distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, along with at least three years of supervised release and a possible fine up to $250,000. Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. Sentences are determined by federal judges according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: "This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice." She added that Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state and local resources "to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims." More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm is prosecuting the case.
