News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
May 19, 2008
Indictment charges possession of child pornography
A federal grand jury has charged Jose Hilario, of Pawtucket, with possessing child pornography. The case was charged as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative against child sexual exploitation.
United States Attorney Robert Clark Corrente and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced the indictment, which the grand jury returned on May 14 in U.S. District Court, Providence.
The indictment alleges that, between September 2007 and April 4, 2008, Hilario possessed visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hilario, 28, of Mary Street, Pawtucket, pleaded not guilty today before Magistrate Judge David L. Martin, who ordered him detained.
An indictment is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty for possessing child pornography is ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the allegations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Terrence P. Donnelly is prosecuting the case.
Contact: 401-709-5032 Thomas.connell@usdoj.gov