Level III Sex Offender Captured and Indicted

BOSTON—A Massachusetts man who became a fugitive from justice in connection with a federal child pornography investigation was indicted today in U.S. District Court in Worcester on federal child pornography charges.

Before his indictment today, THOMAS A. DONAHUE, 44, of Ayer, was charged in a federal complaint and an arrest warrant was issued on March 7, 2011. He remained a fugitive until he was arrested in Belize on April 12, 2011.

It is alleged that between March of 2010 and February of 2011, Donahue produced, distributed, and possessed child pornography. A federal search warrant was executed at Donahue’s apartment on February 24, 2011, during which time a laptop computer, an external hard drive, and other computer related media were seized. It is alleged that a preliminary search of the laptop computer and external hard drive revealed the presence of a large quantity of images and videos depicting child pornography, including pornographic videos that depicted Donahue and a minor male.

Donahue is charged with production, distribution and possession of child pornography, while being required to register as a sex offender. He is a Level III Sex Offender in Massachusetts. Donahue is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Worcester following his return to Massachusetts.

If convicted on these charges, DONAHUE, in part because of his status as a sex offender, faces up to 50 years’ imprisonment on the production count, 40 years’ imprisonment on the distribution count, and 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession count, to be followed by supervised release for not less than five years and up to life and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Richard Deslauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Bruce Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Homeland Security in Boston made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Regional Security Office in Belize and the Special Branch of the Belize Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cory Flashner and David Hennessy of Ortiz’s Worcester Branch Office Unit.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.