Desiree Daigle, Child Sex Exploitation, Massachusetts 2022

Salisbury Woman Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Child Sex Exploitation

BOSTON – A shocking case of child sex exploitation has led to a 17-year prison sentence for a Salisbury woman. Desiree Daigle, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 17 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

In a disturbing case that has left many in shock, Daigle was identified in online chats exchanging various child pornography files with another individual in November 2018. Some of the images depicted an infant in Daigle’s care, taken in Daigle’s home. During the chats, Daigle discussed plans for the other individual to meet the child in person so that they could sexually abuse the child together.

The case is a stark reminder that child predators come in all genders and that children of all ages can be victimized. While nothing will ever alleviate the pain and devastation Daigle inflicted upon the victim and their family, the sentence provides some measure of accountability.

“There are no words to adequately capture how truly reprehensible this conduct is,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Ms. Daigle violated the trust placed in her by a friend and sexually abused a defenseless infant in her care. That she documented the abuse for the perverse gratification of herself and others is truly disgusting.”

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Chief of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Amesbury, North Andover, Salisbury, Arlington, Billerica, Methuen and Haverhill Police Departments.

“The actions of Desiree Daigle were beyond heinous,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “She violated the trust placed in her by her friends and sexually exploited a baby in her care. No child should ever be subjected to this, and no sentence can erase the harm inflicted upon this child and her family.”

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/salisbury-woman-sentenced-17-years-prison-sexually-exploiting-infant-her-care