Robert Barrie, Child Pornography, Rhode Island 2019

A former North Providence and Pawtucket resident, Robert Barrie, is facing between 15-40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production and possession of child pornography.

According to the United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Barrie, 41, was arrested in May 2015 and July 2017 by members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Investigators discovered that Barrie was sharing child pornography through online peer-to-peer networks from his then North Providence and Pawtucket residences. The ICAC task force executed a court-authorized search of Barrie’s residence on May 7, 2015, and seized several electronic devices.

During the forensic audit of the electronic devices, investigators discovered a video that depicted Barrie sexually assaulting a minor female. Barrie was re-arrested and released on bail following his arraignment.

In July 2017, while the state charges were still pending against Barrie, ICAC members observed peer-to-peer Internet traffic of child pornography files being shared from an IP address at a Pawtucket residence. Barrie was arrested again and electronic devices seized from him contained approximately 11,450 images and videos of child pornography.

Barrie is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on August 23, 2019. Production of child pornography is punishable by statutory penalties of 15-30 years imprisonment followed by a term of lifetime supervised release. Possession of child pornography is punishable by a statutory penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams. The Rhode Island ICAC Task Force is comprised of members of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit along with detectives from the Warwick, Cranston, Newport, East Providence, Pawtucket, Bristol, North Kingstown, and Woonsocket Police Departments, and Homeland Security Investigations agents.