Brighton Man Convicted of Child Pornography Offenses

BOSTON – A Brighton lawyer was convicted on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, by a federal jury in Boston of receipt and possession of child pornography.

Hanford Chiu, 29, was convicted of one count each of receipt and possession of child pornography. Chiu was arrested and charged in August 2018.

During a search of Chiu’s residence in Brighton on Aug. 22, 2018, a forensic analysis of Chiu’s custom-built desktop computer revealed over 23,000 images and videos of child pornography. Chiu had accessed child pornography files as recently as the morning law enforcement agents executed the federal search warrant at his home. 

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Both charges also provide for a minimum of five years to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Paruti and Adam Deitch of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

The case is 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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/.