Waterbury Man Arrested on Federal Child Pornography Charge

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that RAUL A. RESTO, 51, of 100 Jefferson Square, Waterbury, was arrested yesterday by members of the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force on a federal criminal complaint charging RESTO with possession of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 2, 2009, a Milford Police detective working with the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force conducted a keyword search over the Limewire peer-to-peer file sharing program using a phrase related to child pornography. As a result, the detective identified a user with a particular Internet Protocol address who was participating in the file sharing program and permitting access to his saved child pornography files. The Internet Protocol address was subsequently traced to RESTO.

Following his arrest, RESTO appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Joan G. Margolis in New Haven. Judge Margolis ordered RESTO detained pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for Monday, November 30.

The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum term of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Dannehy stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to have this matter presented to a grand jury and, in the event an indictment is returned, he is entitled to a trial at which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Milford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anastasia E. King.

The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force investigates crimes occurring over the Internet, including computer intrusion, Internet fraud, copyright violations, Internet threats and harassment and on-line crimes against children. The Task Force also provides computer forensic review services for participating agencies. The Task Force is housed in the main FBI office in New Haven, Connecticut. For more information about the Task Force, please contact the FBI at 203-777-6311.

U.S. Attorney Dannehy noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.