U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha | U.S. Department of Justice
A North Providence resident, Mark Peterson, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for charges related to child pornography. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Peterson, aged 46, received his sentence from U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith and will serve 60 months of incarceration followed by 15 years of federal supervised release. He had pleaded guilty on September 6, 2024, to charges of distributing and possessing child pornography.
The investigation began in February 2022 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided information to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force about online distribution activities linked to Peterson's IP address. A State Police Detective found that this address was used to send 114 files depicting child sexual abuse through an online messaging application.
On April 5, 2022, members of the ICAC Task Force conducted a court-authorized search at Peterson’s residence. They seized several cell phones which contained over 1,300 files with videos and images of child sexual abuse involving pre-pubescent children, infants, sadomasochism, and bestiality. Investigators also discovered screen recordings where Peterson falsely claimed to be a 15-year-old.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julianne Klein and John P. McAdams are prosecuting the case.
The investigation involved the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Massachusetts State Police.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project coordinates efforts between federal, state, and local resources to apprehend offenders and rescue victims.
The Rhode Island ICAC Task Force includes members from various police departments such as Warwick, Cranston, East Providence, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Bristol, Middletown as well as Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
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