Samuel Mendez-Garcia, Child Pornography, Rhode Island 2018
A Providence man has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for possessing dozens of videos and images of child pornography, authorities announced today.
Samuel Mendez-Garcia, 43, was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography.
Mendez-Garcia admitted to belonging to an online social media group that viewed and exchanged child pornography and also admitted to sharing child pornography via Facebook messenger, according to information presented to the Court.
According to authorities, in late March 2018, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received information from security personnel at Facebook that a user of their services, with an IP address in Rhode Island, uploaded child pornography.
The information was forwarded to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force who determined that the IP address and the Facebook account belonged to Mendez-Garcia.
On July 19, 2018, members of the ICAC task force executed a court-authorized search of Mendez-Garcia’s residence and seized a laptop computer and a cell phone owned by Mendez-Garcia. Simultaneously, law enforcement officers met with Mendez-Garcia at his place of employment and seized a cell phone that was in his possession.
A forensic analysis of Mendez-Garcia’s cell phones by a member of the ICAC Task Force revealed dozens of videos and images of child pornography, including images involving prepubescent minors and sadistic/masochistic conduct.
Mendez-Garcia was arrested on August 1, 2018 and ordered detained in federal custody. An immigration detainer has been lodged against Mendez-Garcia by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after it was determined that he entered the United States illegally.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams. United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman acknowledges and thanks the Newport Police Department, a member of the ICAC Task Force, for its assistance in the investigation of this matter.
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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