Matthew Stefanelli, Possession of Child Pornography, Massachusetts 2021

Upton Man Charged with Possession of Child Pornography

BOSTON – A disturbing crime has shaken the quiet town of Upton, Massachusetts. Matthew Stefanelli, a 31-year-old resident of Upton, has been arrested and charged in federal court with possession of child pornography.

According to the charging documents, on January 6, 2021, agents seized several electronic devices from Stefanelli’s residence. A forensic review of the devices revealed images of child pornography saved in an encrypted application designed to appear as a calculator.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell, along with Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, and Upton Police Chief Michael J. Bradley Jr., announced the arrest today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

Stefanelli was detained pending a detention hearing set for July 19, 2021. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. If you have questions, concerns or information regarding this case, please call 617-748-3274.

The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Under Project Safe Childhood, federal, state, and local resources are marshaled to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

Related Federal Cases