Derby Man Charged With Child Exploitation Offenses: Feds

DERBY, CT — A Derby man accused of receiving child pornography has been charged with child exploitation offenses, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced in a news release Tuesday.

According to Avery, Michael Szwarc, 36, of Derby, was convicted in 2013 in state court of second-degree possession of child pornography and in 2022 in federal court of receipt of child pornography.

In January, a federal probation officer visited Szwarc's home unannounced while he was on federal supervised release and found an unauthorized laptop in his possession. The officer seized the laptop, and an FBI examination of the device revealed multiple images of child pornography, according to Avery.

An indictment returned Tuesday by a federal grand jury in New Haven charged Szwarc with receipt of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum prison term of 40 years, as well as possessing and accessing with intent to view child pornography, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, according to Avery.

Avery also noted penalties in this case were enhanced because of Szwarc's prior federal and state convictions for possessing child pornography.

Szwarc has been detained since his arrest on Feb. 9, according to Avery.