Cranston Man Indicted, Arraigned for Alleged Possession and Receipt of Child Pornography

PROVIDENCE – A Cranston man pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Providence to a federal grand jury indictment charging him with possession and receipt of child pornography. 

Steven Papazian, 31, of Cranston, was indicted on July 3, 2018, on one count each of possession of child pornography and receipt of child pornography.

Papazian was released on GPS electronic monitoring following his arraignment before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond.

According to information presented to the court, it alleged that Papazian was downloading and sharing child pornography over the internet using multiple peer-to-peer network file sharing software programs.  Forensic analysis identified more than 40,000 images and videos of child pornography, including prepubescent images and sadomasochistic images.

The indictment and arraignment of Steven Papazian are announced by United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations.

An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Possession of child pornography is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 10 years in federal prison, lifetime supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  Receipt of child pornography is punishable by statutory penalties of 5 to 20 years in federal prison, lifetime supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.

The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Homeland Security Investigations.

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