Griswold Man Arrested on Federal Child Pornography Charges

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kimberly K. Mertz, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that ADAM LEE PETROWSKI, 24, recently residing on Bitgood Road in Griswold, was arrested today by members of the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force on a federal criminal complaint charging PETROWSKI with possession of child pornography and receipt and distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, it is alleged that PETROWSKI used a peer-to-peer file sharing program to receive and distribute images of child pornography. In January 2010, agents with the Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force conducted a search of PETROWSKI’s residence and seized a desktop computer. Forensic analysis of the computer has revealed at least 2300 identified images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Following his arrest this morning at his residence, PETROWSKI appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford. He was released on a $100,000 bond co-signed by family members, with whom he will reside in Canterbury.

If convicted of the charge of possession of child pornography, PETROWSKI faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted of the charge of receipt and distribution of child pornography, PETROWSKI faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty 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 New Haven Police Department. The Connecticut State Police, Troop E, has provided valuable assistance to the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

The Connecticut Computer Crimes Task Force investigates crimes occurring over the Internet, including computer intrusion, Internet fraud, copyright violations, Internet threats and harassment, and online 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 Fein 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.