NORFOLK, Va. – Jamie Lee Sorrentino, 50, of Suffolk, has confessed to a sickening crime: the possession of over 50,000 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The guilty plea, entered today, brings a small measure of accountability for a depraved act that preyed on the most vulnerable.
The case began in June 2016, when the Suffolk Police Department, acting on a tip, raided Sorrentino’s residence. The search uncovered a digital hoard of horror – a vast collection of child pornography and erotica being disseminated through peer-to-peer file sharing networks. A forensic specialist painstakingly cataloged the evidence, revealing the sheer scale of the defendant’s obsession.
According to court documents, Sorrentino didn’t bother to hide his guilt. On the very day of the raid, he admitted responsibility for the disturbing content. The images weren’t simply downloaded; they were shared, further amplifying the harm inflicted on the children depicted within. This wasn’t passive consumption, it was active participation in a monstrous network.
Sorrentino now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years behind bars. While federal sentencing guidelines allow for discretion, the gravity of the offense demands a substantial penalty. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will argue for a sentence that reflects the immense damage caused by his actions. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
This investigation was conducted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. The project aims to dismantle networks of child predators and bring them to justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
The announcement of Sorrentino’s guilty plea was made jointly by Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael K. Lamonea, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk; and Thomas E. Bennett, Chief of Police, Suffolk Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi is prosecuting the case. Sentencing is scheduled for September 12. Case No. 2:17-cr-42 can be found on PACER or the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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