Former Boston Children’s Hospital Anesthesiologist Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Offenses

BOSTON – A former pediatric cardiac anesthesiology fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital was sentenced yesterday to nearly two decades in prison for producing, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Defendant was previously a fellow in pediatric anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

Christopher Sheerer, 37, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 22 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Sheerer was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $65,722. An additional amount of restitution will be determined at a hearing scheduled for March 26, 2026. In September 2025, Sheerer pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography; and one count of sexual exploitation of children. Sheerer was arrested and charged in July 2024 and has remained in federal custody since.

“Every time child sexual abuse material is created, shared, or viewed, children are revictimized again and again,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Each case serves as a difficult reminder that child predators are embedded in our communities. This defendant did not just possess this heinous material – he produced it himself and shared it with others. Moreover, his chosen employment increased his direct contact with children. Today’s sentence reflects the devastating harm these crimes inflict on real children and sends a clear message that those who fuel this abuse will face severe consequences. Our office will continue to work tirelessly to protect children, pursue justice for victims and hold offenders fully accountable.”

“Sheerer is among the worst kind of criminal we investigate. He held a position of trust in the community, but behind closed doors he was a predator of the highest order, not only participating in online groups dedicated to the sharing of photos depicting the sexual abuse of children but also acting as a hands-on offender. Now, he’s facing over two decades behind bars,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations New England. “When our special agents go to work every day, they’re working toward making the world a safer place for children. We hope that today’s sentence does just that and brings a measure of security to the family of the child he victimized as they move forward and begin to heal.”

Sheerer was a fellow in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology at Boston Children’s Hospital at the time of his arrest and was previously a fellow in pediatric anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

In May 2024, an investigation began into a user of an online, encrypted chat application who belonged to a group dedicated to the sharing of CSAM. The target user was subsequently identified as Sheerer, with an IP address tracing him to Johns Hopkins University. Sheerer uploaded imagery of a child known to him to gain admission to that group.

Following a search of Sheerer’s residence in Boston, multiple chats were discovered on Sheerer’s phone, several of which contained pictures and videos appearing to be CSAM involving children as young as infants. Forensic analysis of devices seized pursuant to the warrant showed that Sheerer was involved in dozens of chats with users of the encrypted application, several of which included the exchange of CSAM, including imagery of a child known to him.

U.S. Attorney Foley and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Districts of Maryland and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore and Harrisburg; and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Soto and Anne Paruti of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.