Orleans man arrested for child pornography offenses

On By Rgal Nv

BOSTON, MA – An Orleans man has been arrested for child pornography offenses.

Anthony Argo, 33, has been charged with possession of child pornography. Argo made his first appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday.

According to the charging documents, Argo was identified as a user of a chat app who expressed sexual interest in minors and shared images of child sexual abuse. It is also alleged that during a search of his home, Argo was found in possession of an SD card containing more than 100 video files depicting child pornography. The files allegedly depict children as young as infants.

Argo had previously been convicted in Barnstable District Court of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older, and in Orleans District Court of kidnapping, seduction of a child under 16 and distribution of obscene material to a minor.

Because of Argo’s prior convictions, the possession of child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the statutes that govern sentencing in a criminal case.

Acting Attorney General Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, made the announcement today. Assistant Attorney General Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by federal prosecutors’ offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood mobilizes federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

The details contained in the charging documents constitute allegations. The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.