Woonsocket Resident Sentenced To Federal Prison For Possession Of Child Pornography

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Christopher Marion, 26, of Woonsocket, R.I., was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.

United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha, Cheryl DiPrizio, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Field Office of the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police made the announcement.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith ordered Marion to serve 10 years supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Marion pleaded guilty on August 23, 2013, to one count of possession of child pornography.

According to information presented to the court, in June 2012, a Special Agent from NCIS was conducting an on-line Internet investigation of file-sharing networks to identify users possessing and sharing child pornography. The agent observed numerous files of child pornography being shared from an IP address in Woonsocket, R.I. The agent made a direct connection to the IP address and downloaded two movie files containing child pornography. The IP address was later identified as belonging to the defendant’s residence.

On November 16, 2012, a court authorized search of the defendant’s residence by agents from Homeland Security Investigations resulted in the seizure of a laptop computer. A forensic analysis of the computer revealed that it contained 552 images and 52 videos of prepubescent females engaged in sexual acts with adult males.

Marion was arrested by HSI agents on June 13, 2013, on a federal criminal complaint charging him with receipt and distribution of child pornography.
Marion, who was released to home confinement at the time of his arrest and initial appearance in federal court, was ordered to self-surrender by March 10, 2014, to begin serving his term of imprisonment.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker.

The Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted NCIS and HSI agents in the investigation of this matter.

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