Athol Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

BOSTON – An Athol man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for possession of child pornography.

Arthur Cummings, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 30 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In May 2017, Cummings pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

On March 10, 2016, a federal search warrant was executed at Cummings’ residence based upon an investigation into individuals who use anonymizing software to traffic in child pornography on the “dark web,” a part of the internet accessible only by special software allowing users to remain anonymous.  A forensic review of a laptop seized from Cummings’ home revealed the presence of more than 100 images of child pornography and 10 videos, many of which depicted prepubescent children and toddlers engaged in sexual intercourse with adult men.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent; and Athol Police Chief Russel Kleber made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Grady of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood.  In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources 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.