W. Warwick Resident Facing Child Pornography Charges

PROVIDENCE –  Joseph Seymour, 38, of West Warwick, made an initial appearance in federal court in Providence on Wednesday charged with possessing and distributing child pornography. It is alleged that Seymour stored more than 8,000 images of child pornography on a digital storage device which he mailed via a commercial courier.

Seymour, charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, was released on $10,000 unsecured bond following an appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan.

Seymour’s arrest and the federal charges brought in this matter are announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Shelly A. Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

According to information presented to the court, it is alleged that in July 2016, a Tempe, Arizona computer repair service notified the Tempe, Arizona Police Department that they discovered images on a digital hard drive that appeared to be child pornography. The hard drive had been sent to the Tempe, Arizona repair service via a Rhode Island-based manufacturer of electronic products. The Arizona company is often used by the Rhode Island-based manufacturer as a sub-contractor for computer repair services. It is alleged that the digital storage device owned by Seymour, and which allegedly contained images of child pornography, was mailed via a commercial courier.

According to court documents, the Tempe Police Department reviewed some of the material on the hard drive, and, after determining that some of the contents they reviewed allegedly depicted child pornography, they contacted that Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The hard drive was transferred to the ICAC Task Force and then to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) for further examination.

It is alleged that in addition to numerous documents and other files allegedly containing identifying information belonging to Joseph Seymour, a forensic examination by a USPIS Digital Evidence Unit revealed over 8,000 images of alleged child pornography stored in more than 160 subfolders.

On Wednesday, USPIS agents and members of the ICAC Task Force executed a court authorized search of Seymour’s residence and seized numerous computers and digital storage devices.

A criminal complaint 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.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.

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Jim Martin (401) 709-5357

email: USARI.Media@usdoj.gov

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