Woonsocket Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Charges

WOONSOCKET, RI — A Woonsocket man accused of possessing more than 50,000 images and 200 videos of child pornography — including those of children as young as 3 years old — pleaded guilty to child pornography possession charges in U.S. District Court on Friday. The State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Jason Muschiano, 39, earlier this month after they said he admitted during a search of his home that he had images of 3-, 4- and 5-year-old toddlers.

The U.S. District Attorney's Office said that during an investigation into child exploitation in November 2018 it was determined that an IP address belonging to Muschiano was sharing files suspected to include child pornography. On Feb. 14, ICAC task force members executed a warrant search of Muschiano's residents, during which time police said Muschiano admitted to them that he had downloaded and viewed pornography depicting the children as young as 3.

Computers and devices seized from the residence were then found to have more than 50,000 images and 200 videos of child pornography, according to court documents. Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a supervised release for life and a $5,000 special assessment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan. Muschiano is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22.

U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Colonel James M. Manni and Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina announce the guilty plea on Friday.