Woonsocket Resident Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography

PROVIDENCE - Jose Marquez Escarcega, 29, of Woonsocket, today was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Ann C Assumpico; and Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for New England.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith also ordered Escarcega to serve 20 years supervised release upon completion of his term of incarceration. Escarcega pleaded guilty on October 31, 2016, to one count of possession of child pornography, as charged in a federal indictment returned on December 3, 2015.

According to information presented to the court, in July 2014, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that someone at Escarcega’s residence downloaded child pornography. Based on information developed during a subsequent investigation by the ICAC Task Force and HSI, a court authorized search was executed on October 2, 2014, at Escarcega’s residence.

A forensic analysis of a computer owned by Escarcega and seized by investigators revealed approximately 450 images and 40 videos of child pornography. Additionally, investigators recovered evidence that Escarcega had contacted and paid an individual in the Philippines to provide him with a live video feed as a prepubescent female was molested.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly prosecuted the case.

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