Press Release: Milford Man Sentenced for Production of Child Pornography

Milford Man Sentenced for Production of Child Pornography

Press Release

Milford Man Sentenced for Production of Child Pornography

JUNE 8, 2012

BOSTON - A Milford man was sentenced to 18 years in prison in federal court in Boston today. Investigation led to an international child pornography case involving the abuse of dozens of children.

Robert A. Diduca, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 18 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. On Nov. 17, 2011, Diduca pleaded guilty production, distribution, and possession of child pornography

U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said, “I hope that today’s sentence sends a strong message that the government will bring all of its resources to bear on child exploitation investigations and prosecutions. Protecting children is one of our highest priorities, and we will continue to aggressively and proactively root out anyone engaged in the exploitation of a child.”

“I want to commend the investigators in this case, whose tireless efforts resulted, not only in the arrest of Mr. Diduca, but to a worldwide investigation, culminating in dozens arrests and the rescue of nearly over 130 children,” she added.

“Thanks to international cooperation and first class forensic analysis by HSI special agents here in Boston, along with our Massachusetts State Police partners, an individual arrest in Milford has led to a network of child pornographers that has spanned the globe,” said Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Boston. “An individual photo discovered on Mr. Diduca’s computer has led to 33 arrests and 138 children being saved worldwide. Eight of those arrested live in the United States. Today’s sentence should serve as a stern warning to those inclined to abuse children or share images of child pornography: there isn’t a place in the United States, on the Internet, or the planet in which you are truly safe. The international law enforcement community is united as one when it comes to investigating child pornography. We will investigate you, we will prosecute you, and we will bring you to justice.”

Diduca engaged in an online chat with an individual being separately prosecuted in Arizona, persuading him to sexually abuse a four-year-old child and take sexually explicit photos of the child. Diduca provided the individual with a camera and suggested how the child should be posed.

Diduca was also a member of an online forum for those with a sexual interest in children, and sent a pornographic image of a child via email. An investigation of that distributed image led to the identification of the child, and the arrest of a Dutch national in the Netherlands, who was charged with production, distribution, and possession of child pornography, as well as the sexual assault of 87 minors.

Forensic evidence revealed over 27,000 images of child pornography in Diduca’s possession. He has been held in custody since his arrest on June 2, 2011.

U.S. Attorney Ortiz and Bruce M. Foumart, Special Agent in Charge of ICE-Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today.

The case was investigated by ICE-Homeland Security Investigations, the Massachusetts State Police and the Milford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael I. Yoon of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit in coordination with the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.

This case was being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.