Warwick Man Detained in National Child Pornography Investigation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jordan Monroe, 50, of Warwick, R.I., was ordered detained in federal custody on Friday following an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Providence on child pornography charges.

Monroe was charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with receiving and distributing child pornography, and possessing and accessing with intent to view child pornography after Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents allegedly discovered tens of thousands of computer file folders containing images and videos of alleged child pornography on numerous computers seized from Monroe’s Rhode Island residence.

Monroe’s arrest and detention is announced by United States Attorney Peter F, Neronha and Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of HSI for New England.

During the execution of a court authorized search warrant at Monroe’s residence on Friday, HSI agents, assisted by members of the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Warwick Police Department, seized six computers, three which act as servers. A brief forensic review of the contents of four of the computers by HSI and ICAC agents with expertise in forensic computer examinations revealed a massive collection of computer files which allegedly contain images and videos of child pornography. A forensically trained HSI agent advised investigators that he saw tens of thousands of files with names consistent with child pornography that he has seen in other investigations in his experience.

According to court documents and information presented to the court, a nationwide investigation launched in September 2015 by HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center Child Exploitations Unit and the Department of Justice, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, High Technology Investigative Unit has identified Internet billboards allegedly used for posting, sharing and viewing child pornography. It is alleged that numerous IP addresses in the United States and outside the country have been identified as allegedly viewing and sharing child pornography on the billboards. It is alleged that one such IP address was identified as belonging to a person at Monroe’s residence.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.           

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.

The FBI is assisting HSI  in the investigation of Jordan Monroe.

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