Quincy Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offense

BOSTON – A Quincy man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).  

Andre Tilahun, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to six years in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2022, Tilahun pleaded guilty to one count of receipt and one count of possession of child pornography. 

Following a search of Tilahun’s residence in April 2021, approximately 350 images of CSAM were found on the Tilahun’s computer and approximately 230 images of CSAM on his phone. The investigation determined that Tilahun used the Kik Messenger platform to receive and engage in communications about CSAM with others. In all, Tilahun participated in six Kik chatrooms where participants shared CSAM.   

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Quincy Police Department and Weymouth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ 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.