Johnston Man Sentenced for Possessing of Child Pornography

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Johnston man who admitted to downloading and sharing images of child pornography was sentenced today to three years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Anthony Lapierre, 29, pled guilty on September 13, 2021, to possession of child pornography.

According to charging documents and information presented to the court, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) developed information that in January 2019, an IP address later determined to be associated with Lapierre’s residence was used to upload and share child pornography using an online messenger service. HSI agents determined that Lapierre utilized at least two online messenger service accounts. Court-authorized access to the accounts revealed 22 videos and 10 images depicting child sexual abuse.

Lapierre was sentenced today by U. S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 36 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of federal supervised release.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zechariah Chafee and John P. McAdams.

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