Cumberland Man Indicted, Arraigned on Child Pornography Charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Cumberland man indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of distribution and possession of child pornography turned himself in to the United States Marshal Service today and was arraigned in U.S. District Court, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Robert Aprea, 58,  was charged by way of an indictment on October 12, 2022, with four counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The indictment was unsealed today at Aprea’s arraignment in U.S. District Court. He was released on unsecured bond.

It is alleged that in January 2022, Aprea participated in an online chatroom where, on three different dates, he allegedly uploaded multiple images of child pornography. Aprea’s alleged activity on the social media platform was brought to the attention of the Cumberland Police Department by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, who, in turn, brought it to the attention of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

On March 3, 2022, members of ICAC Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Aprea’s residence and of his digital devices, and allegedly discovered over 3,000 images depicting child pornography, including images of prepubescent minors.

A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.

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