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Press Release

Former Holyoke Teacher Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A former Holyoke kindergarten teacher was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for possession of child pornography.

Gregory Lisby, 40, of Worcester, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to six years in prison and five years of supervised release. In February 2020, Lisby pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Lisby was arrested and charged on Sept. 13, 2019, and resigned the day before from his position as a kindergarten teacher for the Holyoke Public Schools.

Law enforcement discovered an image depicting child pornography that had been uploaded to a Microsoft OneDrive account that belonged to Lisby. Approximately 180 images and 15 videos of child pornography were identified on the OneDrive. On Sept. 11, 2019, a search was executed at Lisby’s home where Lisby’s iPad and cellphone were recovered. On those devices, investigators found login credentials for the OneDrive account used to store the child pornography.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The Worcester, Holyoke, Northboro and Southboro Police Departments and the Massachusetts State Police provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted 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/.

Updated September 18, 2020

Topic
Project Safe Childhood