Anthonio Dicentes, 38, formerly of Hodgdon, Maine, and most recently of Madison, Florida, is headed to federal prison for 40 months after being sentenced on charges of possessing child pornography. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., marks the end of a years-long investigation into Dicentes’ repeated and deliberate downloading of illicit material depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Dicentes pleaded guilty on September 1, 2017, admitting to possessing image files of child pornography between June 2009 and September 2015. Among the material recovered by investigators was at least one image showing a child under the age of 12—evidence that underscored the severity and depravity of the crime. Federal prosecutors emphasized that Dicentes didn’t stumble upon the content; he actively sought it out and maintained it over a six-year span.
The digital trail leading to Dicentes was uncovered through a joint operation involving the FBI, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit, and the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities traced internet activity tied to file-sharing networks where known child exploitation material was distributed. Forensic analysis of Dicentes’ devices confirmed the presence of numerous prohibited files, sealing his conviction.
This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the proliferation of child sexual abuse material online. The program coordinates federal, state, and local law enforcement to target predators who exploit children through digital platforms, with the dual goals of prosecution and victim recovery.
U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank, whose office oversaw the prosecution, reiterated the federal government’s zero-tolerance stance on crimes involving child exploitation. ‘Possession fuels demand,’ Frank stated in a prior release. ‘Every download re-victimizes the children depicted in these images. There is no excuse, no justification—only accountability.’
Dicentes will serve five years of supervised release following his prison term, during which he will be monitored for compliance with strict conditions, including restrictions on internet use and mandatory registration as a sex offender. The grim reality remains: the images he hoarded represent real children, real abuse, and a digital footprint of predation that never truly disappears.
Related Federal Cases
- Lewiston Man Douglas Blodgett Gets 10 Years for Child Porn Access · Maine
- Scot Letourneau Gets 16 Years for Child Porn, Fleeing Justice · New Mexico
- Westbrook Man Sentenced to 12 ½ Years for Child Porn Possession · Maine
- Windham Man Faces 5+ Years for Possession, Distribution of Child Porn · Maine
- Arkansas Predator Gets 50 Years For Child Porn · Arkansas
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes