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Press Release

Athol Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – An Athol man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to possession of child pornography.

Arthur Cummings, 49, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman, who scheduled sentencing for July 11, 2017.

On March 10, 2016, federal agents executed a search warrant at Cummings’ residence based upon an investigation into individuals who use anonymizing software to traffic in child pornography on the “dark web,” a part of the internet accessible only by special software allowing users to remain anonymous.  A forensic review of a laptop seized from Cummings’ home revealed the presence of more than 10 videos and more than 100 images of child pornography.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Athol Police Chief Russel Kleber, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Grady of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

Updated May 18, 2017

Topic
Project Safe Childhood