Massachusetts man sentenced to prison on multiple child exploitation charges

BOSTON – A Massachusetts man was sentenced yesterday on child exploitation charges arising from his transfer of obscene photos of himself to someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl and possession of child pornography.

David Cerasuolo, 49, of Plainville, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to eight years in prison and five years of supervised release. On March 4, 2022, Cerasuolo pleaded guilty to one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor and one count of possession of child pornography.

Starting in June 2020, Cerasuolo used chat applications to engage in conversations with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old girl named “Amy,” but who was actually an undercover federal agent. Over the course of nearly six weeks, Cerasuolo sent over 1,000 text messages to “Amy,” including one that contained a photograph displaying his genitalia. He also attempted to persuade “Amy” to take and send photos and/or videos of herself to him and attempted to entice her to meet in person for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Additionally, during a search of his residence, Cerasuolo was found in possession of child pornography on his cell phone, including images depicting children between the ages of six and 10 engaged in sexual conduct.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. The Plainville, Arlington, Boston and Newton Police Departments and Massachusetts Department of Correction provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Deitch of Rollins’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.