Warwick Man Jailed for Child Pornography

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Warwick resident has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.

Leonard O’Neill, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary M. Lisi after pleading guilty on October 17, 2013, to the crime.

According to investigators, members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force were conducting an online investigation in May 2012 and discovered 235 files of child pornography being shared from an IP address in Warwick. A forensic analysis of computers and hard drives seized from O’Neill’s residence revealed 15,000 images and 2,430 videos depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts.

O’Neill was arrested at his place of employment after his residence was searched by federal, state, and local law enforcement. He was later released on $50,000 secured bond and ordered to self-surrender by March 20, 2014, to begin serving his term of imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, and Cheryl DiPrizio, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office of the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), announced the sentencing.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker. The Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force is a national network of multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task forces engaged in investigations, forensic examinations, and prosecutions related to Internet crimes against children.

O’Neill was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is attempting to determine the identity of the victims in the child pornography images.

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