Cumberland Man Convicted in Federal Court of Producing, Distributing, and Possessing Child Pornography

PROVIDENCE, RI – A Cumberland man has admitted that he produced, distributed, and possessed child pornography, including videos he created while molesting two prepubescent girls, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Michel Rodrigues, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor/producing child pornography; and one count each of distribution of child pornography and possession of and accessing child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2024, and faces statutory penalties totaling between 15 and 100 years of incarceration. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to charging documents and information presented to the court, in July 2023, the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that they had been notified by Twitter that and account belonging to Rodrigues was used to download and distribute images and videos of child sexual abuse. A review of the files by members of the ICAC Task Force and a Homeland Security Investigations agent determined that the files appeared to be self-produced, and involved six-and seven-year-old females with whom the defendant had contact.

On July 22, 2023, members of the ICAC task force and a Homeland Security Investigations agent executed a court-authorized search of Rodrigues’ residence. Both images and video files of child pornography were discovered stored on a cellphone owned by Rodrigues.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan.

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