Tewksbury Man Indicted for Child Pornography Offenses

BOSTON – A Tewksbury man has been arrested and charged on Oct. 7, 2025 with distribution, possession, and receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) allegedly containing images of children between five and seven years old.

Brian McCarthy, 52, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Nov. 4, 2025 on one count of distribution of child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography; and one count of receipt of child pornography. McCarthy was arrested at home on Oct. 7, 2025 on a criminal complaint and was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.

According to the charging documents, on or about Oct. 6, 2025, McCarthy allegedly exchanged messages with another user on Telegram and knowingly distributed to that user 10 files appearing to depict CSAM. The children in at least two of these videos appeared to be between approximately five and seven years old. On Oct. 7, 2025, McCarthy was allegedly found to knowingly possess files appearing to depict child pornography.

The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI Columbus, Massachusetts State Police and Tewksbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit 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 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.

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