Samuel Sergi Arrested for Distribution of Child Pornography

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Samuel Sergi, 59, of Brattleboro, Vermont, was arrested yesterday on a charge of distribution of child pornography. Today, Sergi had an initial appearance on a criminal complaint charging him with committing that offense on April 5, 2012. At the hearing, the Hon. John M. Conroy, United States Magistrate Judge, released Sergi on conditions, including that he (1) submit to home detention and radio frequency monitoring; (2) refrain from unsupervised contact with children; and (3) submit to monitoring of his computer use.

Court records indicate that Sergi downloaded and distributed child pornography using file sharing software. Records further indicate that undercover law enforcement officers downloaded child pornography from Sergi, or viewed it in his shared file list, on four separate occasions over a period of several months. Sergi was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at his Brattleboro home on August 7, 2012.

The complaint charging Sergi with distribution of child pornography is an accusation only; he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of this charge, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He could also be fined up to $250,000. The actual sentence, in the event of conviction, will be determined by the court with reference to the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, with assistance from the Brattleboro Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Christina Nolan is handling the prosecution. Sergi is represented by David McColgin of the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Burlington.