Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Hyde Park resident, Nicholas J. McDonagh, was arrested and charged on April 23 with one count of possession of child pornography, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Leah B. Foley.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address the issue of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Authorities allege that McDonagh, age 25, possessed video files depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including content involving girls who appear to be younger than 12 years old.
Charging documents state that investigators from the Delaware State Police identified McDonagh as a suspect after sexually explicit messages and media were sent via Snapchat to a 12-year-old girl in Delaware between January and March 2025. During searches conducted on August 6, 2025 at McDonagh’s residence, several cellphones were seized containing approximately two dozen CSAM videos as well as Snapchat communications with the minor victim. Following his arrest by state authorities on August 6, McDonagh was released on bail under pretrial conditions such as GPS monitoring and internet restrictions.
Foley said: “Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.” The charge carries a potential sentence of up to twenty years in prison along with supervised release and fines; sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Potapchuk of the Major Crimes Unit with support from multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division and Delaware State Police. This action is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices aimed at combating child exploitation since its launch in May 2006. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available online.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts advances community initiatives related to civil rights and violence prevention according to its official website. The office maintains facilities at the John Joseph Moakley United States Federal Courthouse in Boston as well as branch offices in Springfield and Worcester according to its official website. It operates as part of the United States Department of Justice according to its official website and employs over two hundred attorneys, paralegals, and professional staff according to its official website. The office enforces federal laws through prosecutions involving national security threats and civil rights violations according to its official website, serving all residents across Massachusetts according to its official website. In addition to prosecuting federal crimes and handling civil litigation for the United States government statewide—including promoting public safety—the office traces its origins back to 1789 as one of America’s earliest such entities according to its official website.
Authorities remind that all details contained within charging documents are allegations; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
