Pawtucket Woman Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor, Distributing Child Pornography

PROVIDENCE –  A Pawtucket woman who recorded herself molesting a toddler and sent the video to her then boyfriend was sentenced today to fifteen years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Samantha York, 34, pleaded guilty on June 8, 2022, to sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents, in December 2016, following the arrest of York’s then boyfriend, John Q. Adams, 33, of Foster, in an unrelated investigation, law enforcement allegedly discovered a video on Adams’ cell phone of an adult molesting a toddler. Adam’s allegedly told investigators that his then girlfriend, Samantha York, provided him with the video to satisfy his sexual desire for young girls.

Upon further investigation, law enforcement identified the child whose face was clearly visible; determined that York, who was a caregiver for the child, was the person shown in the video molesting the child; that she recorded her actions; and that she sent the video to Adams. Adams later sent the video to another individual.

York was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 180 months in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of federal supervised release.

Adams is awaiting trial on unrelated charges of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.

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

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