New Salem Man Charged With Child Pornography Offenses

BOSTON - A New Salem man was charged yesterday in federal court in Springfield with child pornography offenses.

Nicholas Conkey, 33, was charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.

At various times in 2018 and 2019, Conkey is alleged to have sent and received child pornography by email. On Jan. 18, 2019, he is alleged to have been in possession of child pornography depicting children younger than 12-years-old. 

Possession of child pornography carries a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison and the charges of distribution and receipt of child pornography carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison. All three charges provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to a lifetime 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 Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting 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 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.