A former U.S. Navy pilot who admitted to coercing a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct and to distributing, receiving, and possessing child pornography has been sentenced to life in federal prison.
Lieutenant Commander Ronald W. Zenga, 45, of Middletown, R.I., pleaded guilty on November 19, 2020, to coercion of a minor, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
On September 20, 2022, Zenga was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to life in federal prison and lifetime federal supervised release, and pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $500,000.
The case was particularly troubling because Zenga abused the trust of a minor and committed heinous crimes while serving in the U.S. Navy and after his retirement.
Zenga’s crimes were discovered after Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents in Providence received information from the Bedfordshire Police Department (BPD) in the United Kingdom that an individual, later identified as Zenga, was communicating with a BPD agent through a Russian file sharing website.
According to court documents, Zenga described several years of sexual encounters with a child, dating back to the child’s prepubescent years. On October 17, 2018, HSI agents and members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Zenga and executed a court-authorized search of his Middletown residence.
Related Federal Cases
- Sami-Joe Daou, Child Pornography Possession, Rhode Island 2024 · Rhode Island
- William Schock, Child Pornography Distribution, Rhode Island 2024 · Massachusetts
- Jason D Boudreau, Child Pornography Possession, Rhode Island 2024 · Washington
- David C. Duquette, Child Pornography Distribution, Rhode Island 2019 · Rhode Island
- Christopher Kinney, Enticing a Minor and Child Pornography, RI 2024 · Rhode Island
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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