St. Albans Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child Pornography

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on March 4, 2020, Ryan Billado, 28, of St. Albans, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont, to serve 96 months in prison after his guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography.  Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also ordered Billado to serve a ten (10) year term of supervised release, and to pay a $100 special assessment. 

According to court records and proceedings, the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (the ICAC) received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).  The CyberTip was generated after Facebook reported that child pornography had been sent between two users.  One of the users appeared to be a minor who sent self-produced images of child pornography to another user.  Through investigation by the ICAC and special agents with Homeland Security Investigations, law enforcement determined that the recipient of the images of child pornography was Ryan Billado.  Through investigation, which included execution of several search warrants for Billado’s residence, digital media, and online accounts, law enforcement learned that Billado communicated with a 15-year-old girl, convinced her to send him sexually explicit photos of herself, and that Billado travelled to another state and had sex with this child.  Billado also possessed images of child pornography that did not involve this minor victim. 

U.S. Attorney Nolan commended the efforts of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson handled the prosecution of Billado.  Assistant Federal Public Defender Elizabeth Quinn represented Billado. 

U.S. Attorney Nolan noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years