New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

BOSTON—A New Bedford man was convicted today in federal court on child pornography charges.

Christopher E. Reardon, 26, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro to possession of child pornography. Judge Tauro scheduled sentencing for May 9. Reardon faces up to 10 years in prison, to be followed by at least five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Had the case proceeded to trial, the government’s evidence would have proven that Reardon used a peer-to-peer network and software to make child pornography available to other users. Reardon admitted to downloading, receiving, and possessing child pornography. A forensic examination of his computer media revealed over 50,000 images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael I. Yoon of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit, and Trial Attorney Thomas Franzinger of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.